The Malaysian Insight

PROTON Holdings Bhd (PHB) will not be letting go any of its 9,600 employees despite the change in management following its 49.9% stake sale to Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd (Geely) a deputy minister told Parliament today.

Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Ahmad Maslan told Dewan Rakyat that Geely, which also owns Sweden’s Volvo Car Group, will retain Proton’s 230 vendors that have around 50,000 employees.

“In terms of workforce, the 9,600 employees will not be retrenched. And this is important because this is part of the agreement.,” he said.

He also said that Proton has plans to expand its workforce to 20,000 in 10 years’ time.

Dungun MP Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli earlier asked about Proton’s latest development in terms of management and employment after the share purchase by Geely.

Ahmad said the appointment of Li Chunrong as chief executive officer of Proton will also help accelerate Proton’s recovery.

He also reiterated that Proton will manufacture Geely’s right-hand drive models at its Tanjung Malim plant.

DRB-Hicom holds a 50.1% stake in Proton, which wholly owns Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd, which is in charge of the automotive group’s main production, operations, manufacturing and marketing.

Chairman Syed Faisal Albar had said Proton aimed to turn the car manufacturing company around in five years and to become one of the top three automotive makers in Southeast Asia and regain its top position in the local automotive sector. – November 9, 2017.