As a taxpayer, I was tremendously shocked and appalled when I read that the national car-maker, Proton, had posted more than RM300 million in losses this year. In the light of the PKFZ fiasco, this is a scandal that is beyond comprehension.

I was a young graduate when Proton first started to produce cars. Now nearly retired and living comfortably by myself, I can't believe the national car-maker is still struggling.

To me the losses just proves that the government has made a huge mistake in supporting Proton all these years. It also signifies the failure of government policy to create a sustainable automotive industry.

Proton should make public the ‘real' reasons for their huge losses and not just blame the current economic climate. Proton is not GM or Chrysler in size or operations. More importantly, Proton must inform the public on its viability.

As a taxpayer, I demand to know how much longer Proton will incur losses. Will Proton survive the current global economic meltdown? Will Proton continue to make losses? And how much more taxpayers' money is required to bail out the company?

I am disgusted that despite the government's assistance since its incorporation over 20 years ago, Proton continues to be a loss-making company. It is time to call it quits and be realistic about the choice of industry that we are going to participate in in the future.

The CEO should take a full responsibility for this fiasco. He may have proven himself as a good presenter and speaker but he is not tested as a capable manager who can turn around this company.

Before coming to Proton, he was not a CEO and did not have a track record in turning around a big loss-making company. Make no mistake. Proton has never made any profit since he came to Proton. The only reason Proton showed a profit last year was due to a generous government grant.

Sure, Proton generates more than 10,000 jobs. But I think any fresh government assistance, if ever it is being considered, would be better directed towards helping Proton employees finding something else to do.

This instead of supporting a continuously loss-making company like Proton. All Malaysians have suffered because of Proton and the sacrifices can no longer be tolerated.

Proton only signifies the Barisan Nasional government's systematic abuse of the industry and Proton. The system has been used for far too long to favour certain well-connected vendors at the expense of Proton and Malaysians.

After all these years, Proton is only good as a ‘show-off piece' to visiting foreign dignitaries but in essence it has nothing to show. Just how many homegrown patents and technology has Proton developed so far?

What is more baffling is that despite support from all Malaysians directly or indirectly, Proton can't even make it in the domestic market. It now plays second fiddle to Perodua. If Proton has failed in the domestic market, what make you think it could succeed overseas?

The government and Proton management must be transparent and admit that all Proton cars that were sold overseas were sold at a huge loss. As a taxpayer I think it is disgusting that I have to subsidise drivers in the Middle East, UK and Australia just so that Proton can sell cars.

This must be stopped. We are not a rich country. Shouldn't we be more prudent in this difficult times and that every ringgit be utilised for the benefit of all Malaysians? I think it is more patriotic to close down Proton now rather than driving around in a London street in a Proton car.

I think Malaysians have put up with too much from Proton. Proton's existence has only benefitted some very few well-connected vendors who sold parts to Proton at exorbitant prices.

So, enough is enough. Please set-up a royal commission to investigate the biggest rot in our corporate history.

Or better still, just close down the factory and sell off the Shah Alam and Tanjung Malim land to developers. The future generation of Malaysians will be better off without it.