Premier envisages Kenyalang Car under cutting-edge technology

KUALA LUMPUR: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has shared his vision for Sarawak to become a hub for car production and assembly, possibly under a local brand such as ‘Kenyalang Car’.

He said however, any move into automotive manufacturing must be backed by cutting-edge technology, talents, and strong partnerships.

“We must have the right technology. The advantage we have now is that we can focus on new energy sources that are recognised globally as environmentally friendly, reducing carbon emissions.

“This will be an attraction for the market. So, it must be discussed first before proceeding to the next stage. That’s our model.

“But there is indeed an intention on our part to use the advantage we have to ensure the industry is sustainable. We don’t want to start something only for it to collapse. We don’t want our industry to fail,” he said.

He said this during the 15th edition of Lan Berambeh Anak Sarawak (LBAS) 2024 Townhall session held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) here today.

Abang Johari was responding to a question by a student on the initiatives taken by the state government to develop local talent in the automotive sector, specifically in automotive manufacturing.

The Premier also said when it comes to production of cars, they must be different from those made by others.

“That’s why I have been engaging with companies like Toyota from Japan and Hyundai from Korea.

“As we produce hydrogen, we should also look towards the future of cars powered by hydrogen. Elon Musk has produced electric vehicles (EVs), and today, China is a major producer of EVs. This means Elon Musk is revisiting the production of EV cars.

“However, there is also a growing trend towards producing hydrogen-powered cars, as they do not use a conventional engine but instead rely on fuel cells,” he said.

Abang Johari said in his engagement with Hyundai, he mentioned that if Hyundai wants to develop new hydrogen-powered cars, then there must be a place that produces hydrogen.

“I suggested that Sarawak could be the most appropriate place for assembling hydrogen-powered cars because Hyundai is already involved, and Toyota has also developed the Mirai, which runs on hydrogen.

“Therefore, it depends on the expertise available to produce these cars. We don’t want to produce cars that can’t be sold; it’s better to focus on world-class cars that can then be assembled in Malaysia, particularly in Sarawak.

“If the technology uses fuel cells, my answer is that we should proceed cautiously because it requires a large investment and collaboration with major companies,” he said.