Much have been said about the highly controversial AP system. As we know, the AP system should be scrapped with immediate effect and a more prudent system formulated for the following reasons:

1. It does not enrich the country nor the poor and deserving bumiputeras.

2. It is subject to such high abuse (in under declaring the true values of cars) that the country has lost billions over the years.

3. Our national car makers Proton and Perodua will fail if the AP scheme continues and the country cannot accept another big failure like Perwaja.

4. Our government and country's image will be tarnished.

The government's immediate challenge is to have the following carried out concurrently:

a. Review the automobile policies to meet the needs of the globalisation age and our commitment to Afta.

b. Have both the Anti-Corruption Agency and the Royal Customs and Excise Duties Department involved in the checking of abuses and corrupt practices.

c. Remove the role of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in the AP scheme.

d. Set up a royal commission to look into the extent of revenue loss the country has suffered due to the scheme and also its impact on the common Malaysian car owner.

I will also recommend that the Customs Department establish a link with all car manufacturers to have the pricing of all their models for export. This will enable the department to keep a watch out for under-declaring.

They may also want to check the remittance of payments against import of cars and the accounts of these automobile importers. A clearer picture will emerge and this is one way the government will be able to collect the full dues to the country.

Just look at the car prices these days. Malaysians pay for the second most expensive cars in the world. Big Money and Big Power is at play and I encourage our prime minister to make a bold stand on the abolishment of the AP scheme.

With globalisation, accountability and transparancy are the key words. For Malaysians to have a better life, they need not feed those who are bestowed with APs.