Blog Statement by Lim Kit Siang in Petaling Jaya on Saturday, 17^th October 2009: 

Proton should respond to the shocking report from New Zealand where Proton Jumbuck turned in worst crash test ute performance and adjudged not fit for the road

The Proton management should respond to the shocking report from New Zealand where Proton Jumbuck turned in the worst crash test ute performance and adjudged not fit for the road.

The two-door Jumbuck utility vehicle (ute) was given dismal safety ratings by independent crash test organisation Ancap (Australasian New Car Assessment Programme) in New Zealand, awarded the lowest possible one-star rating after its performance in frontal offset and side impact crash tests.

Ancap scores vehicles from zero to five stars, depending on the safety features and protection of the driver and passengers.

The ute's cabin was severely deformed in the 64km/h offset crash test. It offered poor head protection for the driver and passenger, and poor leg protection for the driver.

It also lacked airbags, ABS, and electronic stability control - a feature that senses skidding and individually brakes the wheels, helping the driver to regain control.

The Proton Jumbuck joined two other utes available in New Zealand in being given dismal safety ratings by Ancap.

The New Zealand media today quoted Consumer NZ testing manager Hamish Wilson as saying that potential buyers should steer clear of these utes.

"We don't believe these vehicles should be allowed on the road."

He said the minimum standard for a new ute should be four stars. The Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi Triton and several Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore utes achieved this.

The difference in safety between a two-star and a four-star ute was significant, he said.

"It can mean the difference between walking away from a crash and being taken away in an ambulance."

The following is the report from New Zealand Herald:

Malaysian ute's crash-test score sparks Consumer NZ safety warning

4:00AM Friday Oct 16, 2009

The Proton Jumbuck gained only one star.

A Malaysian-manufactured ute has turned in the worst crash test performance of any vehicle being sold here, Consumer New Zealand warns.

The Proton Jumbuck ($24,000) joined two other utes available in New Zealand in being given dismal safety ratings by independent crash test organisation Ancap (Australasian New Car Assessment Programme).

The two-door Jumbuck was awarded the lowest possible one-star rating after its performance in frontal offset and side impact crash tests.

Ancap scores vehicles from zero to five stars, depending on the safety features and protection of the driver and passengers.

The ute's cabin was severely deformed in the 64km/h offset crash test. It offered poor head protection for the driver and passenger, and poor leg protection for the driver.

It also lacked airbags, ABS, and electronic stability control - a feature that senses skidding and individually brakes the wheels, helping the driver to regain control.

The two-door Chinese-manufactured Great Wall Motors SA220 ($22,000) was given a lowly two-star rating, with findings that its protection for the driver was poor and its passenger compartment buckled in a frontal offset crash test.

While Great Wall Motors' larger four-door V240 ($27,000) model has dual front airbags and ABS brakes, it was also awarded only a two-star rating.

Consumer NZ testing manager Hamish Wilson said potential buyers should steer clear of these utes.

"We don't believe these vehicles should be allowed on the road."

He said the minimum standard for a new ute should be four stars. The Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi Triton and several Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore utes achieved this.

The difference in safety between a two-star and a four-star ute was significant, he said.

"It can mean the difference between walking away from a crash and being taken away in an ambulance."

- NZPA

*Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary leader & MP for Ipoh Timor