I agree that Proton must start to stand on its own feet and compete in the global market. Additionally, our government, with its credibility at stake, must honour its commitments to the Asean Free Trade Area so that our country on the whole can benefit from its participation.

With fuel prices spiraling up , our leaders have been quick to coerce us to shed our subsidy mentality and stop whining about price increases.

Perhaps it is timely that we remind the government that they are not the only ones that have been making the sacrifices. Whether we realise it or not, for the past over 20 years we have been subsidising Proton.

In protecting Proton, higher taxes and duties were introduced so that Proton cars could be sold at inflated prices while still being cheaper than other makes of cars. One has to only compare our car prices with those of other countries.

It is a double whammy for us for not only are we paying more than we should for Proton cars, the government is making hay with all the taxes and duties.

The sad part is even with all the 'help' from the people, Proton is nowhere near where we would expect it to be. Even as I type this letter, it is losing its local market share and its latest model, the Gen2 , has been a spectacular non-success.

Proton, after over 20 years, should not be still wading in the kiddies pool. But by subjecting them to 'natural' market forces which Afta would entail, it would, unfortunately, be like throwing them into the deep end and watching them sink slowly to the bottom.

So, I suppose we'll have to buy them floats until they learn how to swim. Who now must first learn to discard the 'subsidy and crutches' mentality?