Unhappy with flying cars? Drive ‘bamboo cars’, minister tells M'sians

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians who have been making fun of the much-hyped “flying car” can choose to stay behind the times and take a ride on “bamboo cars”, quips Entrepreneur Development Minister Redzuan Yusof. 

“Well, they can choose whether they are going to stay behind. People call this a state of denial, whereby they can choose to stay behind. 

“It’s okay to stay under bamboos. (If they) want to ride ‘bamboo cars’, that’s okay too,” said Redzuan to reporters when met at Parliament lobby on Thursday (March 28). 

According to him, the government’s endorsement of the privately funded “flying car” project was aimed at developing human capital in the country. 

“It’s more towards giving knowledge education to these people. We don’t want this group to be left behind.

“Actually, these Malaysian youths (behind the project) are already far ahead, and they are in the same ranks as those who invented and did research (on this project) at an international level.” 

Malaysians have made fun of the “flying car” project on social media, with some asking if the model of the vehicle on display in Langkawi was made from the famous KDK fans, and others expressing scepticism.

Meanwhile, Aerodyne CEO Kamarul Muhamed said a working prototype of the air mobility vehicle was expected to be ready by the end of the year, adding that it would cost somewhere in the region of RM500,000. 

Aerodyne is a global player in the drone services industry and is ranked seventh internationally by the Drone Industry Insights. 

Starting in 2014 with three people, it now employs about 280 people in 24 countries around the world.