Safety regulations for the much-hyped “flying car” are not expected to be ready anytime soon, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.
This despite news that a prototype of the car is slated to be launched at the end of the year.
Speaking to the media after launching the National Transport Policy 2019-2030 at KL Sentral in the capital this evening, Mahathir noted in jest that the country had yet to be ready for the commercial use of flying automobiles.
“At the moment (the safety regulations are) not yet ready.
“You see, a lot of people talk about flying cars. Just imagine if everybody owns a flying car, there will be a traffic jam up there and the policeman will be flying also in the middle of the traffic. It is a little bit of a problem.
“Even in Europe and the US, they have built a (flying) car. But using the car is another matter,” he said when asked if the government was ready to regulate flying cars.
Earlier today, Entrepreneurship Development Minister Mohd Redzuan Yusof told Parliament that the flying car would be unveiled within the next two months.
He also said that Cyberjaya had been identified as a testing ground for innovative technology like autonomous drones and air mobility.
Unlike Mahathir’s comments today, Redzuan indicated that the flying car would be ready for use.
"I would like to state here that if we were to travel to Penang (from KL), it would take four hours.
"The private sector and entrepreneurs have begun a discussion with high-tech providers to make it possible to get to Penang within an hour by using flying cars," the minister had said.
This was in response to opposition member Rembau MP's Khairy Jamaluddin’s question as to whether the government was prepared to regulate and support the flying car industry.
Redzuan previously showcased a flying vehicle prototype named “Vector” to much public amusement.
It is being developed by a Malaysian firm, Aerodyne, in Japan. - Mkini
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