KUALA LUMPUR: The government will meet Proton's official distributors and vendors soon over the challenges that they are facing, said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
He said the government is concerned over the views and challenges faced by the national car dealership, and advised them to upgrade outlets to 3S (sales, service and spare parts) facilities from 1S.
"In any transformation, there will be parties who are going to be affected, and the government is concerned about this issue. And they need to upgrade all sales centres to 3S to remain competitive in the industry.
"The government will inform all distributors under Proton after meeting the association," Mustapa told a media conference after officiating the SME Bank Young Entrepreneurship Innovation Program Y-Biz Challenge 2018 and "MySMEBank" online application here today.
The Malaysian Association of Malay Vehicle Importers and Traders (Pekema) recvently said it had received complaints from Bumiputera sales companies on Proton's new management policy, led by Proton Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd (PONSB) chief executive Officer Dr Li Chunrong, pressuring them with a “rather harsh administration” since last November.
The association also claimed that DRB-HICOM Bhd’s assurance on protecting the Bumiputera interest in Proton seemed failed to address their plight.
Pekema added that Proton's current policy seemed to destroy some Bumiputera sales representatives and existing Proton services, amid the company's effort to upgrade distribution centres and services under one roof.