National carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd (Proton) is moving forward to improve the company's operations since former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad quit as its chairperson five months ago.

Mahathir's successor, Syed Faisal Albar Syed Ali Rethza Albar, said Proton's status as the national car remains unaffected by his departure.

"I think personalities in the chairman position can come and go. So in terms of Proton as a national car, it will remain as is.

"We will continue to produce cars, we design cars and we look into research and development," Syed Faisal told a press conference today after launching Proton's latest model, the second generation Proton Persona.

He said this when asked to comment on Proton's current status and future plans under a new leadership, following Mahathir's resignation on March 31.

"We have a new management, a new set of people that came in.

"We also have on the DRB-Hicom side as a shareholder, the DRB-Hicom University of Automotive Malaysia," said Syed Faisal, who was appointed to replace Mahathir in May.

Graduates of the university would have the formal skill sets to make a difference within Proton at all levels of operations, he added.

To ensure continuous market support, Syed Faisal said Proton will be refining the details of its offerings, including launching a mobile application for customers to set up appointments with their service centres.

"There are a lot of factors put in place and certainly with help from the government loan, we will continue to improve overall operations," he said.

Syed Faisal added that Proton has set a sales target of between 3,000 and 4,000 units a month for its latest model, positioned above the current cheapest Proton Saga range, in order to break even in the next two years.

Earlier in his opening speech, Syed Faisal said Proton has came a long way since its start during Mahathir's leadership in 1985.

"Like Lee Chong Wei, Proton has always carried the Jalur Gemilang in our hearts and in our minds," said Syed Faisal, citing Malaysia's number one shuttler's silver medal at the Rio Olympics as an inspiration for success.

International Trade and Industries minister Mustapa Mohamed (photo, left) in his speech earlier said the government had disbursed RM750 million in three instalments from the total RM1.5 billion soft loan approved for Proton on June 7.

Mustafa said the soft loan was largely approved for Proton to assist its vendors who are affected by current economic challenges.

"It is not our (the government's) job to close companies or factories... It is not our job to make people suffer... our job is to facilitate businesses," said Mustapa in reaffirming the government's commitment towards Proton and its 12,000 staff at all levels.

Commenting on the new Proton Persona, Mustapa said the 1.6 litre model is the cheapest in its category throughout Southeast Asia.

The function held at the Setia Alam Convention Centre in Shah Alam saw hundreds of foreign dignitaries, government officials and industry players gathered to witness the launch of the new car.

Also present were International Trade and Industries Deputy Minister Chua Tee Yong, and DRB-Hicom non-executive chairperson Mohammed Khamil Jamil.

The new Proton Persona starts from RM46,800 to RM59,800 and available in three variants and six colours, with improvements made to its original model released in 2007.