(Petaling Jaya, Tuesday): "Penjelasan ini ingin saya buat kerana akhbar dan TV tidak mungkin melapor semua fakta-fakta kepada orang ramai." (I have to provide this clarification because newspapers and TV may not report all the facts to the public) 

That was the opening remark made by the former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his written statement at a press conference on Tuesday. 

Those who have access to Bernama online and other Internet media may have read Mahathir's statement in full on the same day. But other Malaysians will have to wait until Wednesday, July 27, 2005 morning to see whether the mainstream newspapers controlled by various Barisan Nasional component parties would publish his statement in total or in parts. 

Such was the reality the retired politician has to face now that he is no more in control. But he himself should be blamed as he was the one largely responsible for “a press without freedom" in this country. 

But Mahathir was lucky this time. All the mainstream newspapers were using his story as the front page news item, and all his arguments were largely reported in full. He may not be so lucky the next time. 

In the press conference, Mahathir has accused Rafidah for not telling the whole truth on the issue of AP and Proton, short of calling her a liar. 

Some of the points he made were valid and Rafidah Aziz must not run away from answering them: 

1.         The Proton issue is not one of differing statements between individuals or a quarrel between a minister and a retiree. It is about a national enterprise.  

2.         Initiatially, APs were issued for reconditioned cars. Although there were many Bumiputeras who sold their APs, there were those who succeeded in this field. Among them is Tan Sri S.M. Nasimuddin S.M. Amin.  

3.         On the other hand, when more APs were given to a select few Bumiputeras who were not prepared to venture into this business, surely the number of Bumiputera car dealers would not increase and the sales of Proton by its Bumiputera agents would not be high. 

4.         Besides, the price of foreign cars imported using APs is too low, resulting in bigger discounts and thus higher sales for these models. At the same time, the number of Proton agents did not increase. 

5.         Clearly, the issuance of APs only profits a select group of Bumiputeras at the expense of Proton agents, especially the Bumiputeras, and reduces the chances of other Bumiputeras to become Proton dealers. 

6.         It is not true that the issuance of a large number of APs will increase the number of Bumiputeras in the car business, especially when two or three people who were given thousands of APs did not even have showrooms. 

7.         In the past, holders of open APs were allowed to import various brands. When the franchise APs were introduced, only those who succeeded in securing a franchise were allowed to import the brand concerned.  

8.         Those who were allowed to bring in cars using the open APs could no longer import that brand. The recipients of the franchise were not car dealers but former ministry officials.  

They obtained thousands of APs although they did not have the facilities to assemble or sell the cars. They only hand these over (with some payment) to those who could assemble and sell this particular make. 

9.         Mahathir was once the Minister of Trade and Industry. Rafidah’s statement that she found many who had been given APs without qualifying for them when she took over the ministry, and subsequently revoked them, showed her firmness at the time. As Rafidah did not mention the name, many people will think that it was Mahathir. 

10.        Although there is no restriction on newly retired officers (optional retirement) from being given special opportunities by the Government, questions are being raised on why this former officer, despite not fulfilling the requirements, was given thousands of APs. 

11.        We know that many car dealers, including members of the Malaysian Malay Vehicle Dealers and Importers, requested for APs but did not get them. They were also not informed of the franchise APs from exporters, which would qualify them for a large number of APs. 

12.        The introduction of this category of AP was not openly announced to car dealers. All of a sudden, this category was introduced and only a select group of people received a large number of APs in this category. AP recipients who in the past imported franchise brands were no longer allowed to import them. 

13.        It is evident that APs are being openly sold. It is the responsibility of the minister to monitor the situation so that there is no abuse. 

Mahathir has also threatened to provide the details of the correspondence with the relevant parties will be made available in due time to avoid any dispute. 

The AP system had only enriched a fraction of tycoons closed to Rafidah and other UMNO politicians. We support Mahathir to get to the bottom on the AP matter. He was correct to point out that Rafidah did not provide the whole truth. 

In fact, we were surprised why Mahathir did not ask her to take actions against those who under-declared the value of imported cars in the past. 

He should also demand for the removal of the AP system all together. Sooner or later, this peculiar AP system which runs against the grain of AFTA’s spirit will be questioned by carmakers of other ASEAN nations.   

The whole world is still waiting for Rafidah to announce the national car policy.

(26/7/2005)

* Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew, DAP Internattional Secretary and NGO bureau chief