THE Malay proverb, �Harimau mati meninggalkan belang, manusia mati meninggalkan nama� conveys the meaning �One�s good deeds will never be forgotten.�
With this in mind, I would like to suggest that the new Proton model be named after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the man who so brilliantly inspired the automotive industry in the country. I would like to mention some famous companies in the global automotive industry to emphasise my suggestion.
Henry Ford (1863-1947), the founder and manufacturer of the Ford motor car. He started the Ford production company in 1901, which was later known as the Ford Motor Company in 1903.
Sakichi Toyoda (1894-1952) started the Toyoda Automatic Loom Works Ltd company, and the first car was produced in 1935 by his son Kiichiro Toyoda. Eventually the company was named Toyota Motor Company in 1937.
Sachiro Honda (1906-1991) was a mechanic and mainly produced motorcycles at the beginning, and successfully launched the Honda Company in 1948. His first car, called a Honda, was made in 1948.
Michio Suzuki was the inventor of the Suzuki motor car, and founded the Suzuki Motor Company in 1954. It was later known as the Suzuki Motor Corporation. Suzuki is the ninth-biggest automotive company in the world and has 133 delivery companies in 192 countries.
Walter P. Chrysler changed the name from Maxwell Motor Company to Chrysler after he bought the corresponding companies� shares in 1925. Since then, the name Chrysler is being used in all his company products.
If all these companies named themselves and their cars after their founders, then it is only apt that we honour Dr M by using his name on our Proton cars. He was the backbone of the automotive industry in Malaysia, and without him we might not have achieved the brilliant success in this industry.
In light of this, I suggest that the Government organise a competition to name a future model after Dr M. It is important because by doing this, future generations will remember his contributions in the national automotive industry.
It has been 26 years since Proton was born, and it is time for us to honour Dr M�s contributions. Today we can hold our heads high that Proton is on par with other international names.
Dr M�s thoughts and actions have always been advanced, enabling us to �kaizen� (continuously improve and always learn to achieve). Hence we should always think positively and cultivate big ambitions for ourselves.
Dr M has done a lot for us and our country. As the father of modernisation, he is a most esteemed �engineer� and �architect� who has put Malaysia on the map.
We should not repeat the mistake with P. Ramlee. That is, honouring him with the Tan Sri title only after 17 years of his passing. Now is the time for us to take our hats off to honour Dr M.
A. MUTHU,
Alor Setar.
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