Television network TV3 has denied that a series of reports it has been carrying on Proton cars have anything to do with the current political situation in the country.

Media Prima Bhd’s group managing editor (news and current affairs, TV networks), Mohd Ashraf Abdullah, said this when asked about claims that TV3 was, on the instruction of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), deliberately tarnishing the image of Proton in its reports.

The series of reports on TV3 quoted various taxi associations and taxi drivers who had complained about bad conditions of the Proton cars.

“(It has) nothing to do with the current political situation in the country, nor is it an attempt to directly or indirectly attack any individual,” Ashraf ( photo ) said in a statement to Malaysiakini .

“Only those who read too much into these reports would come to such conclusions,” he said.

Ashraf added that the television station “is known” for highlighting problems faced by the rakyat, including the taxi drivers who have genuine complaints.

“They, too, deserve to be heard," he said.

Zam: My friends said so...

In a blog posting today, former information minister Zainuddin Maidin highlighted comments made by his blog followers how TV3 had, for three nights in a row, broadcast complaints made by the taxi drivers about their Proton cars.

“My friends working at TV3 told me that they are just loyal servants following orders from advisers at the Prime Minister’s Office,” Zainuddin said.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is Proton’s executive chairperson and he conceived the concept of a national car in the 1970s.

Suffice to say, Proton is definitely the former prime minister’s “baby”.

Mahathir has also been relentless in his attacks on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak of late, over various issues, particularly on state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Malaysiakini has contacted the PMO and is awaiting its response on the matter.