New CEO can lead Proton's global forays, says Mustapa

KOTA BARU: Newly-appointed Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd (PONSB) chief executive officer Dr Li Chunrong could help spur the national automaker’s global forays, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said.

He said automotive business was becoming increasingly global and important for the nation, hence, it should be led by professionals.

“A business must be spearheaded by the best performers, it doesn’t matter who... bumiputra or non-bumiputra.

“This is not something new as some locally-owned companies are headed by foreigners,” he told a press conference on the upcoming Kelantan Entrepreneurs and Career Carnival 2017 themed “Let’s Go Into Business and Find Jobs”, here yesterday. He was commenting on the appointment of Li as the CEO of PONSB, effective yesterday, following the departure of Datuk Ahmad Fuaad Kenali on Sept 30.

Mustapa said the government did not intervene in the CEO appointment as it was the company’s business prerogative.

“According to media reports, the CEO has 30 years of experience in several automotive companies and he was handpicked by DRB-Hicom Bhd and definitely the company wants to get good returns from their investment in Proton,” he said.

On the Kelantan Entrepreneurs and Career Carnival 2017, Mustapa said it would be held at the Kelantan Rural Transformation Centre in Tunjong on Oct 5 and 6. — Bernama