Proton bomb
Malaysia's creaky national car company faces an uncertain future
NORWICH CITY has just won promotion to the Premier league, but things are not going so well for Proton, the Malaysian car firm that sponsors the English soccer team. Founded in the 1980s by Malaysia's then prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, Proton was meant to symbolise the country's rapid industrialisation and aspirations to first-world status. Now, with free time since leaving office last October, Dr Mahathir is back, hoping to solve the problems of his cherished white elephant.
This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “Proton bomb”
From the May 8th 2004 edition
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