AIDILFITRI JOY: Abang Khalid presents duit Raya to a pupil. SK Merpati Jepang senior assistant Madehi Dolhan is at second left.
KUCHING: The Association of Malay Importers and Traders of Motor Vehicles Malaysia (Pekema) Sarawak wants the federal government to maintain Approved Permit (APs) for imported vehicles.
Pekema Sarawak chairman Datuk Abang Khalid Marzuki said APs are still necessary as car importers in the state, particularly from the Malay community, are still lagging behind their counterparts in Peninsular Malaysia.
“We are still behind and that’s why such APs should be kept as the right of Bumiputeras and we hope the federal government can look at the plight of Pekema from Sarawak and Sabah side,” he said after handing over duit Raya to 145 underprivileged SK Merpati Jepang pupils.
“Politically, we have contributed to Barisan Nasional (BN) winning in the last general election and we hope they don’t forget our contributions from that and not sideline our plight, especially us in Sarawak and Sabah. A lot have voiced out their dissatisfaction and grievances on the matter.”
Under the National Automotive Policy, APs will be abolished by 2015.
Abang Khalid said Pekema accepts the drop in prices for Proton as this would benefit Sarawakians from the middle income group.
“Let them enjoy the lower prices so that they can afford a car to bring them from one place to another,” he said.
He pointed out that the earnings of Pekema members are given back to the community through corporate social responsibility (CSR) work and Yayasan Pekema Sarawak, which helps those in need. At least RM500,000, he said, has been contributed for community service.