International Trade and Industry Minister Darell Leiking has appealed for proof that Approved Permits (AP) have been abused, vowing to penalise wrongdoers.
He also chastised the media for allegedly sensationalising allegations that APs were being sold to third parties, without producing evidence to verify such claims.
“Show us the proof and I will make sure that not only Miti (Ministry of International Trade and Industry) but I myself will ketuk kepala (knock the heads) of those who abuse this.
“But please, don’t run down your country this way (by saying) ‘Oh there is an allegation of this and that is the truth, that is the gospel truth’.
“[...] If you have proof, why don’t you show me the names (of those who sell the APs)? Record them, secretly record them if you can if they are selling the APs. Help me lah.
“[...] Of course it sells in the media (when) there is this scandal, but why don’t you catch them? Don’t create stories,” he told a press conference today when asked to elaborate on his ministry’s statement on the issue.
The statement noted that Miti had issued APs to a total of 164 firms in January this year, of which 36 were new companies.
It also stated that most of these new companies were not “fully in operation” yet, despite a condition which required AP applicants to have a minimum of two years’ experience in selling and distributing motor vehicles.
The statement was issued following an article in automotive portal DS&F (Drive Safe and Fast) which quoted an unnamed existing AP holder as saying that the Pakatan Harapan government had approved 38 new permit holders.
“He (the AP holder) has confirmed to us there are now 38 new AP holders in Malaysia. Yes, the new government has granted 38 new car importers the 'right' to make 'easy' money.
“From what we have found out, most of the new 38 AP holders have already started talking to established AP holders to 'buy' their APs as they are not in the car business, and instead just want a fee of RM18,000 to RM22,000 for one (each) AP,” the portal had claimed.
Under the New Open Approved Permit Policy, which commenced in January this year, companies that receive APs must be fully bumiputera firms.
The firms must have prior relevant experience, as well as a strong financial standing to be able to sustain the business of importing re-conditioned cars to be sold domestically.
The policy does not place a limit on the overall number of APs to be released across the year, and companies may apply for extra APs based on their sales performance.
It is aimed at promoting the development of new bumiputera entrepreneurs.
‘We inherited a lot of things’
Pressed today to clarify whether these new companies had fulfilled the condition of having the necessary experience, Leiking said he “was not in the know” as the approval process had been undertaken by the previous government.
“That one I am not in the know of, that one went through a process that was led by the civil service.
“[...] All this was in place previously and as we took over the government, they advised us, we looked at it and we have cleared it because they followed highly professional external and internal audits that ensured these people met the conditions asked for by the government,” he said, again demanding proof that APs had been abused.
“We inherited a lot of things so (now) we want to correct a lot of things,” he added.
Leiking stressed that APs were not to be sold and vowed to crack down on those who violated this rule.
“We want to get to the truth, tangkap whoever sells the AP.
“If these people do (this), we expose who they are. We expose the director, we expose their families.
“The government never thought that they would sell (APs) because they are supposed to do something out of it,” he said. - Mkini
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