Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp) has claimed that Proton Edar Sdn Bhd only decided to extend the RM5,000 discount on old cars to Sabah and Sarawak after the party had pointed out unfairness in the way the scheme was to be implemented.

sapp sabah don chin Sapp vice-president Don Chin Hon Kiong was commenting on an announcement by Proton Edar CEO Mohamad Shukor Ibrahim that car-owners in the two states would also be eligible for the discount when buying Proton models.

“Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Liew Vui Keong, who did not know that the Proton Edar was going to issue the announcement, made his private secretary deny that such discrimination existed,” Chin said in a statement to Malaysiakini today.

He said the party welcomes the announcement, saying “this is what Sapp had demanded last Friday” and called on the government and Proton officials to implement the scheme without delay.

proton and perodua merger Owners of cars that are at least 10 years old are eligible for the discount to buy Proton and Perodua cars.

Chin also suggested that the terms and conditions of the policy should be made more reasonable. For example, if the old cars are in good condition, then the discount should be more than RM5,000.

The government should include marques such as Naza, Honda, Toyota and Nissan, as well as four-wheel drive vehicles which are popular in Sabah and Sarawak, he said.

“We reiterate that the price of Proton and Perodua cars should be standardised with that of Peninsular Malaysia. The discrimination in pricing must stop,” he added.

The discount scheme was included in the RM60 billion stimulus package announced by deputy premier and Finance Minister Najib Abdul Razak last week. The money will be spent over the next two years.