QUESTION TIME | For now, prices of locally assembled cars are not going to rise as much as 20 percent, or up to RM33,000, but this is only until the end of this year after which the new system of computing the value of cars for the purpose of excise duty kicks in.

There was initial confusion over whether the new method of computation would be imposed with consequential rises in the prices, especially of locally-assembled cars because of higher excise duties.

In effect, this would have increased the gap in prices between locally assembled cars and the so-called national cars even further, increasing the competitive pricing of these cars and making more car buyers buy national brands such as Proton and Perodua.

This is the last thing one wants when it comes to ...