Dr M wishes Saga a happy birthday

Dr Mahathir Mohamad test-drives a Proton Saga at the launch of the model on July 9, 2985. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today wished the Proton Saga a happy anniversary as the iconic car model turns 35.

“Happy 35th Anniversary, Saga,” Mahathir, who was known as the “father of Proton”, said in a Twitter post.

The Saga, Proton’s first model, was commercially launched on July 9, 1985, two years after the company was established as the national carmaker. It was named by the late Ismail Jaafar, a soldier, in a contest to name Proton’s first car.

Mahathir was chairman of Proton until his resignation in March 2016.

The following year, Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group acquired a 49.9% stake in the car manufacturer, leading Mahathir to declare that Proton was no longer a national car. - FMT