Opposition representatives have urged the abolition of protectionist measures for the "national car", following the purchase of the 49.9 percent stake in Proton Holdings Bhd by China's Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd.

PKR's Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen and DAP's Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, when contacted, both called for the excise duty on cars to be abolished in order to reduce car prices.

Wong called for this to be done within a three-to-five-year time frame.

"I am against a sudden elimination of the excise duty as it will cause market confusion and destroy all locally-produced cars, including Perodua and also decimate the used car market," he said when contacted.

Wong said the government should do away with protective policies that breed wastage, inefficiencies and corruption to make Malaysian cars more competitive.

"Protectionism can be good but it must have specific, limited time frame and the management must be based on merits and abilities. Proton squandered all the protectionist policies and the time has come to end it."

Pua said the former opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat promised the gradual abolition of the excise duty in its 13th general election manifesto.

The new opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan holds the same position, he said...