Nobody retrenched at Proton, says govt

Pic By MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

PROTON Holdings Bhd has given the assurance that there will be no retrenchment at the carmaker, despite the changes in stakeholders and the entry of China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd.

Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan said the new Proton management under CEO Dr Li Chunrong has decided not to retrench any of its 9,600 employees.

“The government can assure that none of the 9,600 employees of Proton would be retrenched,” he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Ahmad said Proton is expected to expand its workforce to 20,000 in the next 10 years, from the current 9,600.

He was responding to Dungun MP Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli, who had asked the government to state the latest developments in Proton — in terms of management and employment risk — after the acquisition by Geely.

Ahmad said Proton has an internal transformation plan which would be implemented via a cross-functional team programme.

“The entire Proton workforce would be well-utilised efficiently to ensure it achieves short-term and long-term goals,” he said.

Besides the transformation plan, Ahmad said Proton employees will also be given opportunities to join the human capital development programme which is organised by Geely’s design research and development centres based in China, Sweden, England, Spain and the US.

On Li’s appointment, Ahmad said the former’s experience can be well-utilised to enhance Proton’s branding and sales in the region.

The carmaker would also be elevated from being a domestic player to be a regional car manufacturer, with a longerterm goal of becoming a global player.