Malay car dealers want Approved Permit system retained teamcar - THE Malay Car Importers and Dealers Association (Pekema) - which groups more than 200 firms - is to submit a White Paper soon to the Government, hoping to preserve the Approved Permit (AP) system beyond 2010.

Under the new National Automotive Policy (NAP) announced on March 22, APs will be phased out in stages and completely abolished in 2010.

Pekema president Datuk Abdul Hamid Ibrahim hopes the Government will change its mind after considering how Bumiputeras have performed in the car distribution sector for the past 30 years.

"We have been working on the White Paper for the past three months. Our presentation is not based on emotional grounds, but on the commercial success in terms of Bumiputera participation in the automotive distribution sector.

"For the past 30 years, we have experienced ups and downs without much help from other parties," Abdul Hamid said in an interview with Business Times recently.  ¶ 8:44 AM