JEDDAH, May 16 (Bernama) -- The Association of Malay Importers and Traders of Motor Vehicles Malaysia (Pekema) hopes International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed will reply soon to its queries regarding the National Automotive Policy.

Acting President Datuk Zainuddin Abdul Rahman said Pekema would hold its annual general meeting on Wednesday and had invited Mustapa to address its dinner later that day.

He said the association had met senior ministry officials on the automotive policy, especially on the move to end the issuance of approved permits (APs) by December 2015 and the RM10,000 charge imposed for each open AP issued.

The response from the ministry was positive, he said.

"What Pekema is fighting for goes beyond individual problems faced by players in the automotive sector. We are fighting for the survival of Bumiputeras in the automotive business," he told Bernama.

Zainuddin said that in Malaysia, the import and sale of used cars would not adversely affect the business of local manufacturers and assemblers since the number of imports was only around five per cent of the total cars assembled locally.

"Despite that, in term of value, it generates over RM1 billion annually for the government in the form of import taxes and excise duties, not including corporate taxes which amount about RM120 million per year," he said.

He said that for Bumiputeras, the road ahead was still long and strewn with thorns.

"The government is still stable, strong and does not need to bow to any pressure. Let the Bumiputera enjoy a policy that does deviate from the aspiration and what has been enshrined in the constitution.

"If the economy is a cake, this is the only piece where the Bumiputera can taste economic success brought about by the country's independence and wisdom of government policies," he said.

-- BERNAMA