With regards to your report Dr M: Protection for foreign cars or Proton? the Proton advisor claims that fully imported cars are sold at below cost price.

If this is true, then surely Proton can submit a protest and have anti-dumping duties imposed on the vehicles in question. I'm sure he knows that and with all the information available, the government can take immediate action.

However, what I'm afraid is that Proton cars actually cost more than imported ones due to a lack of economies of scale. It is a well-known fact that the price Malaysians pay for a car could get them a luxury limousine in most other parts of the world.

What we have been doing for the past 20 years is subsidising Proton so instead of grumbling about it, Dr M should actually thank the Malaysian public for having had the patience and understanding all these years.

However, 20 years is a long time and it is only right that we should put a stop to this subsidy mentality. We understand if Dr M is sentimental and wants to see his brainchild succeed, but not all projects can meet with equal success.

If Proton needs to be sold, so be it. Rover was to the British, the last bastion for mass produced British cars but the UK govt allowed it to fold simply because the people wouldn't allow any more public funds to be used to prop up the company.

Dr M should realise that we have to move on and cut our losses. We shouldn't get caught in a time warp and fantasise about better days ahead. It looks as if that only Dr M is left all alone in believing that Proton can succeed.

The others, such as International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz, have abandoned him. She should know because she has been in charge of the automotive sector for umpteen years.

However, to be fair to Dr M, I have this strange feeling that he has not been given all the facts, and that's why he is on this rampage and unknowingly being made use of.