DRB-Hicom Needs Strategy To Face More Competitive Industry - Najib

December 12, 2009 15:44 PM

DRB-Hicom Needs Strategy To Face More Competitive Industry - Najib

PEKAN, Dec 12 (Bernama) -- DRB-Hicom Berhad needs a strategy to maintain its success in an increasingly competitive industry, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Saturday.

He said the group should not be satisfied with its current strategy although it has brought success since the opening of its automotive complex in Peramu Jaya here 25 years ago.

"They should implement a strategy to face the next 25 years," Najib said at a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of the automotive complex.

"We cannot just retain the strategy which has been successful for the past 25 years but also take dynamic and timely measures to ensure success for the next 25 years," he said.

Also present were the Sultan of Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah, who officiated the event, Sultanah Pahang Sultanah Kalsom, Tengku Mahkota Pahang Tengku Abdullah, Tengku Puan Pahang Tengku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah and the Prime Minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

Looking back, Najib said the automotive industry had started in Pekan 33 years ago with the opening of a factory by Tatab Industries Sdn Bhd in Peramu Jaya in 1976.

He said after three decades, the industry began to show encouraging development and progress, especially under the DRB-Hicom group which built its own automotive complex in 1984.

Najib said besides offering job opportunities to about 2,200 workers, especially those residing in Pekan, the complex has produced almost 5,000 vehicles since its opening.

"Its achievements are not only in making vehicles for well-known producers like Isuzu and Suzuki but also for Mercedes-Benz which has given an opportunity for it to assemble various models, including the S500 class which has the highest value," he said.

Najib also said that the workers' capability and the technology being used by the group are comparable with international standards.

The complex, he said, also contributed to the economy through the excise duty and road tax which increased 78 per cent to RM442 million last year from RM178 million in 2005.

The figure is expected to reach RM525 million this year, he added.

-- BERNAMA