IT was a landmark agreement in Malaysia's automotive sector. The Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed between Proton Edar Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd (Proton), and Edaran Otomobil Nasional Bhd (EON) on April put an end to an impasse that lasted two years and has cleared the way for all to chart their respective paths to compete in an environment which will soon burst with fierce competition.
The MoA is not simply an agreement between two of Malaysia's highly profitable and successful companies but it is one that has redefined the role of a long-standing bond that began at the birth of the national car project.