Minister mum on ‘flying car’ test site, says private initiative
Entrepreneur Development Minister Redzuan Yusof has refused to disclose the location of Thursday’s flying vehicle test site as it was a closed-door event, even for the press.
The minister said this was as the government was merely facilitating the air mobility project, a private initiative by a Malaysian company hoping to “elevate themselves” in terms of market capitalisation.
Entrepreneur Development Minister Redzuan Yusof has refused to disclose the location of Thursday’s flying vehicle test site as it was a closed-door event, even for the press.
The minister said this was as the government was merely facilitating the air mobility project, a private initiative by a Malaysian company hoping to “elevate themselves” in terms of market capitalisation.
He said the matter of invitation was left to the company concerned. It was initially reported that this project for Malaysia’s first flying car was being undertaken by a Malaysian company in Japan.
“We are testing the vehicle as we want to make sure it is real. This is a (private) initiative by the younger people who want to use innovation to create an industry for others to follow.
“So I don’t think I can disclose where it will be. It’s a closed invitation, by the company itself,” he told reporters at Parliament lobby today.
He said the government did not wish to undermine the project and wanted to avoid any speculation, in the event the initial test failed.
“So I cannot get public ( and media participation) … to compromise their (the company’s) standing. They have got purchase orders (letters of intent) around Asia, for example,” he added.
Nonetheless, Redzuan expressed hope that should the project prove successful, Malaysia would become the hub for the manufacturing and assembling of aerial vehicles.
Even so, for the time being, the minister admitted Malaysia was “not ready” with the space to fully accommodate air mobility vehicles or flying cars.
“We are discussing at the government level on how to provide adequate space for air mobility in this country.”
As to whether he would pilot the vehicle during testing, or be a passenger, Redzuan replied he was unsure, but would “definitely sit in the vehicle”.
On the labelling of the air mobility initiative as “rubbish” by Bersatu supreme council member Rais Hussin, the minister said the latter should learn to think “bigger”.
“Malaysians are hesitant followers. How can we become leaders?
“He must understand that one can accept his so-called statement as being rubbish, but it’s his own opinion,” was the minister’s response.
In August, Redzuan said the vehicle was 85 percent completed and a prototype would be brought back to Malaysia from Japan by year-end.
He said at the time that whether the vehicle would be launched this year would depend on Malaysia's ecosystem for flying cars.
He said in October that the country’s second flying car - being developed in Europe and using different technology- could take to the skies by the third quarter of next year.
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