Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said the controversy surrounding Approved Permits (APs) for import cars is still not over.

According to a Bernama report, he said the main concern was the large number of permits given to certain individuals when the policy was to nurture as many bumiputera entrepreneurs in the highly-competitive automotive sector.

Mahathir, who is also the adviser for national car manufacturer Proton, questioned why those with showrooms could not get the permits.

He said the release of the list of individual AP recipients including Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday was nothing because they imported cars for their own use.

He said it was the policy of the government to allow diplomats or MPs to import cars for their personal use.

Mahathir had started the ball rolling on the controversy when he claimed that the distribution of APs was hurting Proton's market.

He also questioned why certain individuals were given large numbers of permits, resulting in International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz being thrust into the spotlight.

Following this, there were calls on the veteran minister to resign .

MPs with APs

Yesterday, it was revealed that a total of 337 members of Parliament have obtained APs to import luxury foreign cars between 2000 and Sept 12 this year.

They are among 4,500 individuals who were issued with APs during that period, according to a written reply to Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang at the Dewan Rakyat.

(Every MP is entitled to one AP for personal use.)

Previously, it was reported that four people were given more than 25,000 APs to import luxury cars into the country in the last three years.

They are Nasimuddin SM Amin, Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim, Mohd Haniff Abdul Aziz and Azzuddin Ahmad

Of the number, Syed Azman, Mohd Haniff and Azzudin received a total of 16,214 APs under several companies while Nasimuddin, chairperson of the Naza Motor Group, held 9,412 APs mainly under Naza Kia Sdn Bhd.