Sunday, September 25, 2005

AP Issue Still Hot

The Approved Permits (AP) issue simply refuses to fade. Malaysian Members of Parliament were jumping mad when the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) released the names of MPs who were recipients of APs. Some of them are now demanding that Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz step down for failing to come clean on the APs controversy. Read the report here..

However, the person who brought up this issue in first place, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the former prime minister and now Proton adviser has this to say: “I am only concerned with the effect of the APs on the market in Malaysia. That was my first complaint.” Read the full report here…

Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Evolution of the Suzuki Swift

The Suzuki Swift is one of the newest entrants to the Malaysian compact car segment.
I found the history of this car quite interesting. It started out as a concept vehicle, the 'Concept-S' which was first unveiled at the 2002 Paris Motor Show. This was soon followed by the Concept-S2, an open-top sports car that was unveiled at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show.

"Suzuki designers and engineers collaborated with European automotive professionals and ordinary motoring enthusiasts in pursuit of Suzuki's best compact car ever."

Unlike other Japanese cars, this model was developed with the European market and customers in mind. However, it is now produced in four countries, namely, Japan, Hungary (Magyar Suzuki Corporation), China (Chongqing Changan Suzuki Automobile Co., Ltd.), and India (Maruti Udyog Ltd.) and sold globally.

The Suzuki Swift 1.5VVT was launched in Malaysia on May 16th this year and costs RM79,888 approx.

OTHER INFORMATION

- Suzuki Malaysia Automobile Sdn. Bhd. has been appointed by the Suzuki Motor Corporation as the new automobile importer/distributor for the brand in Malaysia.
- Suzuki Malaysia Automobile Sdn.Bhd. was established by DRB-Hicom Bhd. With a capital investment of RM 5 million (USD1.3 million), 100% invested by DRB-HICOM.
- The Chairman of DRB-HICOM, Mr. Mohd Saleh Sulong is also the Chairman of Suzuki Malaysia Automobile Sdn.Bhd.

RELATED POSTS


- http://autolah.blogspot.com/2005/07/suzuki-apv.html
- http://autolah.blogspot.com/2005/05/new-nissan-plant-suzuki-swift.html