Automobile tycoon Nasimuddin SM Amin tops the list of Approved Permits (AP) recipients for the first two months of this year, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

His Naza Motor Group has thus far received 4,158 franchise APs to import luxury vehicles from the ministry of international trade and industry (Miti).

In a written reply to Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor), Miti minister Rafidah Aziz revealed that under the open AP holders list, Nasimuddin's ( right ) Naza Konsortium Sdn Bhd emerged as the biggest recipient with 3,112 permits last year and 1,297 up to March 1 this year.

However, the Prime Minister's Department in a statement last year claimed that the allocation of open APs had stopped in 1988.

Hence, it is unclear how these permits are still being issued.

Last year, Naza Motor Group, which includes Naza Kia Sdn Bhd and NZ Wheels Sdn Bhd, was allocated a total of 9,220 franchise APs.

Rafidah also revealed that a total of 18,007 APs had been allocated to car importers in the first two months of 2006.

She said the total allocation of APs for this year had been fixed at 52,138 and this was based on 10 percent of the total production of local vehicles.

"Up to March 1, the 18,007 APs allocated is a temporary step until the national automotive policy is finalised," said the minister.

She also disclosed that a total of 57,267 APs were issued last year out of the 66,979 allocated for these companies.

Tuned-up cars

On the same note, the government has stopped allocating APs to importers of tuned-up cars. Last year 3,321 APs were issued tp six companies in this category.

There are two types of APs - franchise and open. Franchise APs are issued to companies which have exclusive agency agreements with foreign car manufacturers.

As for the open APs, permit holders are allowed to import new and used vehicles from any sources.

The AP was introduced in 1970 with the objective of promoting and providing opportunities for bumiputera entrepreneurs in the automotive sector.

The permits became a burning issue last year when former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is now Proton adviser, claimed that its rampant issuance has created problems for the national car manufacturer.

He also questioned how certain individuals managed to secure so many of these permits.