Electricity up; govt grants for Proton

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Electricity tariffs have been hiked by an average of 7 per cent because the government says it cannot afford “subsidies”. But Proton has been enjoying “research grants” from the government.

So who is subsidising whom in the case of Proton?

Source: Proton Annual Report 2010

* Note in the Annual Report 2010

The Government of Malaysia, as part of the Second Stimulus Package under the Ninth Malaysia Plan had within the ambit of the National Automotive Policy (β€˜NAP’) granted in 2009 a Research and Development (β€˜R&D’) grant to Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn. Bhd. (β€˜PONSB’), a wholly owned subsidiary company. One of the objectives of the NAP is to provide support and incentives to enhance competitiveness and capability of the automotive industry through the development of the latest and more sophisticated technology. PONSB, being a full fledged automotive manufacturer has complied with the requirements and had been allocated funds in the form of a R&D grant.

During the financial year (2010), PONSB has recognised R&D grant income amounting to RM143,688,000 (2009: RM80,656,000) based on R&D expenditure that did not meet the capitalisation criteria, as set out in the Group’s accounting policy (Note 3(d)(iii)).

For the quarter ended 31 March 2011:

Source: Proton's quarterly report to Bursa

Notice the difference in terminology: When it comes to government/public funds for essential services to the rakyat, they call them “subsidies”. But when it comes to government funds provided to the corporate sector, they call them “support”, “incentives” and “grants”.

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Yokey
Yokey
31 Aug 2011 1.52pm

Proton is in trouble.
OSK Research Sdn Bhd has downgraded its call on Proton to “sell”.
The fair value for its stock has been downgraded to merely RM2.

http://star-motoring.com/News/2011/Proton-faces-negative-reaction.aspx

bow
bow
8 Jun 2011 12.21am

Financial supports given to Proton benefit a select group of politically well-connected bumi stakeholders, while subsidy for electricity trickle down to lower price for ordinary Malaysians( bumi and non -bumi), no doubt it is better to eliminate subsidy than to cut supports for the present ruling elite.

Kumaran
Kumaran
4 Jul 2011 3.43pm
Reply to  bow

Agree fully.

That’s why we should not buy a Proton car.

Jimmy
Jimmy
7 Jun 2011 11.45am

About time for governemtn to subsidize Astro?

Astro is joining the Barang naik phenomena…. I have been subscribing for so many years and the prices kept on increasing even after revising my package to the minimum. It’s an excuse saying they could not absorb the high costs anymore when they have other indirect revenues such as from advertisements placed with them. As long as they continue monopolizing this market, we are at their mercy.

The only way to make them wake up is to terminate our service with them.

roslan
roslan
6 Jun 2011 4.16pm

MACC should investigate what Tan Sri Ani Arope claimed. This is serious and there were abuse of power and possibly corruption involved. Why would EPU involved in negotiation on electrical traffic between independent power suppliers with Tenaga? Why would EPU want Tenaga to pay more when the seller willing to sell lower? This involved tax payer money and the people are made to suffer for so many years and years to come.

As Malaysians, I demand investigation to be initiated immediately and those guilty to be charged. The more we get rid of these scumbags the better it is.

roslan
roslan
6 Jun 2011 4.06pm

It is not only the big projects that the Umnoputras are scrambling for, even the small ‘sebut harga’ projects can see their fingerprints. It used to be that certain small Federal projects (eg Security, Foof Supply, Uniforms etc) were on tender basis (National basis) but not anymore as now they are broken into smaller components ( State basis) so as to accomodate more players ( mostly Umnoputras). Maybe it is part of the ETP or whatever programs, the whole exercise smells ‘fishy’. Players who have no track records in the ‘industry’ are now Government suppliers!. This practise is getting very… Read more »

orang ketiga
3 Jun 2011 11.51pm

WHY THE IMPACT ON BUSINESS DUE TO TARIFF HIKE WILL BE MINIMAL Since the last tariff hike in 2006, citizens and corporations have undertaken steps to conserve electricity through the use of energy-saving products. They know that the hike will not be the last. The hike in rate has nothing to do with mismanagement by the Government of the country’s energy resources or Tenaga Malaysia Berhad’s craving to soar its profit margin sky high. The fact is the price of fuel and gas went up. This is a global issue and no country in the world can do anything much… Read more »

1Miri
1Miri
2 Jun 2011 2.46pm

Hi 5……..I am so over Proton. Toyota or Honda a better choice. R & D are just rubbish.

Devi
Devi
2 Jun 2011 11.02am

Anil

What is the reason (or excuse) given by BN for not able to afford those subsidies?

I do not seem to get the answer at all. Perhaps I miss out their justification.

What do they plan to do with the ‘savings’ from subtsidies that is ‘rakyat didahulukna’?

Phua Kai Lit
Phua Kai Lit
1 Jun 2011 3.29pm

Malaysia’s “infant (car) industry” is certainly taking a long time to grow up.

Qabil
Qabil
1 Jun 2011 2.23pm

Why are we the taxpayers subsidizing those rich companies (IPPs, Protons, MAS…)?

When it comes to cronies, all sorts of excuses are used to protect them, but we consumers are taken for a ride by the government every time.

Each time Barang Naik we must ubah gaya hidup?

I cannot see any ‘high income nation’.
All I know is my diminishing purchasing power.

Latif
Latif
6 Jun 2011 2.53pm
Reply to  Qabil

The Economic Transformation Program (ETP) will transform this country into another Zimbabwe. Najib was all enthusiastic and gave rakyat all hopes when he became PM, only to finally transform all his programs and projects into Umno-cronies-only programs. Even the Malay-dominant PAS rejects his programs.
The time has come for us to go deep into the kampungs and spread our message across to the kampung folks: Vote for Pakatan Rakyat

semuanya OK kot
semuanya OK kot
1 Jun 2011 1.31pm

… Felda. The billions just pumped into it come from our retirement fund EPF. Apparently, neither we nor our MPs need to be informed why. Such is the wisdom of our masters.

tunglang
tunglang
1 Jun 2011 1.57pm

Ah Kong’s monies mah. Ah Kong’s is not in control, so is the big question of future of anak-anak Malaysia.

HY
HY
1 Jun 2011 9.11pm
Reply to  tunglang

Ah Kong sleeping then Ah Mah must wake up Ah Kong lah. but who is Ah Mah????

charleskiwi
charleskiwi
31 May 2011 5.57pm

Who is or rather who are the people running Proton? Najib needs their support in Umno to stay on as president thus as P.M. of Malaysia. Najib has learnt from shenanigan Mahathir how to remain as P.M. for 23 years and that is why (Pas has been) approached … to become a coalition partner and offered … three ministries.

He is very desperate to hang on as P.M.and he is well aware of his deputy’s ambition …

Yang
Yang
31 May 2011 2.58pm

Robin Hood rob the rich and help the poor. UMNO & BN … help the rich and their cronies.

Robertson Pereira
Robertson Pereira
31 May 2011 1.59pm

GOVT should stop grants to PROTON!!

Plain Truth
Plain Truth
31 May 2011 12.40pm

PM Najib obviously needs to keep Proton’s racist patron happy.

Companies that rely on crutches will eventually die a natural death.

Claudia
Claudia
1 Jun 2011 3.31pm
Reply to  Plain Truth

Proton is kept alive in order not to dash the dream (of escaping the infamous malay dilemma) of those rural folks.

Samad
Samad
9 Jun 2011 11.42am
Reply to  Claudia

You are right.

It is a must for (many) malay(s) who have got a job in the city to drive a car home to his/her kampung to show off his/her arrival/achievement.

Such mentality is brought by our NAPm – National Apanama Policy to make malays buy Proton out of blind faith.

donplaypuks
31 May 2011 11.39am

I suspect these R&D Grants to Proton totalling more than $500 million over the last 5 years are nothing more than thinly disguised bailouts to prop up massive operating losses. Apparently, this year’s $222 million R&D Grant dished out by MoF was incurred to develope hybrid engines. I’d like to know which Proton model is going to use one and what the total R&D cost will be. Recently, Proton took on massive debt to turn around Lotus. I think in the near future we will see another massive write-off with Lotus (maybe) sold for Euro1 as was MV Augusta, again… Read more »

Andrew I
31 May 2011 11.24am

How to soften the impact of a tariff hike:

1. The it’s not our fault assertion. Blame everything under the sun.
2. Change your lifestyle. Enjoy the heat, like thousands of tourists do and pay for.
3. Avoid mention of all contentious issues raised by annoying bloggers like this one.
4. Send in the Gherkin brigade.

johanssmKhunPana
johanssmKhunPana
31 May 2011 7.09am

It is perfectly fine if proton uses the R&D grant to develop fuel efficient engines, better safety features or quality at a competitive price that rival the best.
That would have been beneficial to our Malaysian motor engineering apprentices and the automobile industry.
However judging from the recent Mitsubishi cloned “new model”, why proton qualify for such R&D grant at all.
If that particular vehicle class is not proton’s specialty then stay out of it.
As Copy & Paste is definitely not Research and Development.
Is proton addicted to opium as described by Najib ?

Kono
Kono
1 Jun 2011 1.32pm

Proton can only fool the kampung folks into thinking that it has built a car of Lancer quality with its own capability. Those kampung folks do not know what is ‘rebadge’ as utusan, rtm and tv3 do not tell them the truth. They can syiok sendiri with such ‘achievement’.

resident.wangsamaju
31 May 2011 1.55am

I wonder what’s Proton ‘researching’. Almost all their models have a product life of 15 years. Face lifts comes in about 2-3 years but the base model goes on for 15 years or more. Proton is really inefficient- after all the ‘researching’ they produce a mediocre Saga FL (FL stands for funny look) and a re badged Lancer (what-the..?) that’s being beaten by Peugeot, Ford, Hyundai, Mazda models in the same price segment. How to sell Inspira if like this. Proton should be closed down and have all the people sacked starting from the advisor position. Rakyat cannot subsidize Proton… Read more »

tunglang
tunglang
31 May 2011 7.19am

A well researched Proton product?
Do You Know: Proton is an idiosyncratic acronym for:
PROblems By The TONs.
Ask any seasoned Protonite inside gaya-raya Proton corporation why he is not shaking his head.
Apanama problem tu?

Kono
Kono
1 Jun 2011 1.29pm
Reply to  tunglang

Need to pay the travel expenses for those proton executives to UK under the pretext of ‘managing’ Lotus?

Yang
Yang
31 May 2011 9.31am

A rebadge lancer and they have the nerve to say that they have invested 500 millions in R&D for this model… half truth is what they are good in.

mmc
mmc
31 May 2011 12.00am

its (someone’s) pet project. who dares go against (him)? badawi tried to be funny with (him). what happened?

Kono
Kono
1 Jun 2011 1.25pm
Reply to  mmc

why worry for pak lah when (was involved in the) Limbang (deal)?

tunglang
tunglang
1 Jun 2011 1.54pm
Reply to  Kono

Same leeching species, different names & different faces!
So don’t continue to be fooled, rakyat-rakyat Malaysia.

Gerakan K
Gerakan K
30 May 2011 11.18pm

Go ride bicycle lah if you all hate Proton so much.

Bodoh !!!

Nick
Nick
31 May 2011 6.38am
Reply to  Gerakan K

No thanks. We buy Honda city or Toyota vios instead.

It’s what proton represents that we hate la…!

Andrew I
31 May 2011 11.03am
Reply to  Nick

People with no ethics won’t be able to grasp this. They really give meaning to the phrase love is blind, and judging by Proton’s latest “designs”, who are we to say otherwise?

Azlee
Azlee
1 Jun 2011 3.48pm
Reply to  Nick

Buy the new MyVi instead of the poor-quality proton:

http://star-motoring.com/News/2011/New-Myvi-open-for-booking-from-June-4.aspx

Yang
Yang
31 May 2011 11.45am
Reply to  Gerakan K

We don`t hate Proton. We loath cronies and people like you who by being a wannabe…

orang ketiga
3 Jun 2011 11.53pm
Reply to  Yang

who are the cronies you loath? The Lim Goh Tong, Francis Yeoh,Vicent Tan(?)

Butt
Butt
4 Jun 2011 11.28am
Reply to  orang ketiga

They are proxies for umno….duhhh. Ask Apanama !!

1Malaysian
1Malaysian
31 May 2011 1.22pm
Reply to  Gerakan K

U r just like proton…. Never grow up to be independent. Vacate the seat if u r not capable. Always telling u have new plans/ models but with outdated technologies. See, Korean cars r sold all over the world. Proton still crawling inspite of govn’s help. MALU tak. Even perodua produces better cars.

AminGL
AminGL
31 May 2011 4.41pm
Reply to  Gerakan K

Gerakan K

Please grow up like a Jantan, jangan bodoh…!

1Malaysian
1Malaysian
30 May 2011 10.17pm

That’s the way BN waste monies on JUNK companies. What a pity after all these years, this company is still not independent. A thorough audit and stern actions WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR taken against the wrong doers. Now, how will our electricity bill be billed as some consumers will be billed after June1 for electricity consumed in May.

Kono
Kono
1 Jun 2011 1.24pm
Reply to  1Malaysian

Yes, soon a bail-out for MAS?

mana ada sistem?
Memang ada sistem kroni!

lizziewong
lizziewong
30 May 2011 10.11pm

Proton has net asset per share of RM10. Why shld it be given a grant, when their balance sheet shld be strong enough to get them a loan. And, shld a loan be not forthcoming, why not change their lifestyle and sell some assets?

Ho Ho Ho
Ho Ho Ho
30 May 2011 9.22pm

Ho 😳 Ho 😳 Ho 😳

😳 1 M’sia is their Sandiwara n only for all their GREEDY CRONIES !!!! n they will INCREASE everything to make RAKYAT really sick of them 1 DAY……n will …vote them the HELL all out!!!! 😳

Ho 😳 Ho 😳 Ho 😳

tunglang
tunglang
30 May 2011 8.01pm

During Ah Kong’s accounting times, there is no such things as grants. Everything was straightforward in black and white accountability for useful purposes. No hanky-panky with the use of terminologies like ‘grants’ to legalized hoodwinking the undiscerning public who had no access to official documents and accounting. Now Ah Kong is but a near death ‘effigy’ with no absolute control over what, how, when and for what to spend with his dwindling assets, legally belonging to his anak-anak Malaysia. Ah Kong: “What is Grant? To me, the meaning: agree to give or allow (something requested) to. When did I agree… Read more »

Claudia
Claudia
1 Jun 2011 3.29pm
Reply to  tunglang

THE former Urban Development Agency, now corporatised as UDA Holdings, revealed yesterday that it was indebted to the tune of over RM700 million!!!

Another bail-up again!

Rahmat
Rahmat
4 Jun 2011 8.05pm
Reply to  Claudia

THE former Urban Development Agency, now corporatised as UDA Holdings, revealed yesterday that it was indebted to the tune of over RM700 million (S$286.6 million) and needed government assistance to survive. UDA chairman Nur Jazlan Mohamed said this in a media statement in response to accusations by several chieftains of the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) and newspaper Utusan Malaysia that the firm had abandoned bumiputera interests by not appointing Malay companies as joint-venture turnkey investors for the proposed RM3 billion Bukit Bintang City Centre. The seven hectare piece of land sits in the area once occupied by Pudu Jail… Read more »