OUR automobile manufacturers are charging prices higher than most Asian countries, with no safety features such as air safety bags. It is unfortunate that successive governments have failed to protect the interest of consumers by enforcing strict regulatory controls.

Our members of parliament seem to be disconnected from what should primarily have been their moral and constitutional obligation to protect public interest. How can we expect any better from the ruling elite who prefers using foreign-made expensive limousines, fitted with safety features, at tax payer`s expense, because locally-assembled cars are unsafe for them? A comparison of the price list of Proton car manufactured and assembled in Malaysia, fitted with Japanese engines and all Japanese/European safety features, will reveal the extent of the rip-off by the automobile manufacturing industry of Pakistan. These can be verified from protonprice.com.

An SV 1.3 (M) SAGA FLX Model 2015 costs $9195 (RM34,023), while the same model SV 1.3(A) is worth $ 10,006 (RM 37,023) and Executive Edition 1.3(A) is $12,047. A Persona SV1.6(A) price is $12,978, while SV(M) is only $12,167. An Inspira Executive 2.0 (A) sells at 23,068 while premium edition is worth $24,986.

Most of these cars are offered on full loan easy installments for a nine-year period, with interest rate 2.93pc.

Ali Selangor Malaysia