AP Kereta Import Dimansuh Pada 2015.

Under Malaysia new automotive policy, the government has decided to stop giving approved permit by 2015 for car importers which allow them to import cars without full tax payment to government before this. This would give big impact to automotive industries which will reduce the number of directly imported vehicle and increase in price of imported vehicle.

NO APROVED PERMIT (AP) FOR CAR IMPORTERS STARTING 2015

The government on Thursday assured Approved Permit (AP) holders, who will be affected by the stoppage in AP issuance by 2015, that they will be given aid under the special fund set from the RM10,000 fee charged for each AP issued.

Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, who gave the assurance, said the government established the fund to help develop bumiputra entrepreneurs in the automotive industry and related businesses.

“We charged RM10,000 for every AP issued to set up the fund and the money will be used to ensure a smooth and orderly shift of bumiputra entrepreneurs to other business sectors.

“By having the fund, we hope to execute the shift orderly and smoothly,” he told reporters after the soft launch of the Muslim World Biz 2011 exhibition.

On claims by the Association of Malay Importers and Traders of Motor Vehicles Malaysia (Pekema) that 70,000 workers in the automotive industry would lose their jobs if the AP policy on imported vehicles was enforced by 2015, Mukhriz said they must show proof first.

“They need to prove that statement because we have our own figures. We have been helping them for a long time, some about 30 years already.

“I think they will benefit greatly from this government policy. At this time, there are many more bumiputra companies that wished they have the APs enjoyed by the 98 companies (selected by the government).

“There are about 160 companies eligible to get APs but the government will stick to the 98 companies and will protect them until 2015.”