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For the 50th anniversary of the legendary Nissan GT-R, the company commissioned ItalDesign to design a special version of the sixth generation of the model. Until now, renderings and pictures of a prototype have been shown and now we get to see the first production-ready version that is known as the GT-R50 by Italdesign.

Unveiled at the Tazio Nuvolari Circuit in Italy recently, it is the first of 50 units that will be built, each priced from €990,000 (about RM4.71 million). Nissan says most are already taken up and the first customers will start getting their cars from the end of this year.

2020 Nissan GT-R50 by ItalDesign

Powering each GT-R50 by Italdesign is a NISMO-tuned 720 ps/780 Nm hand-built 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V6 (VR38DETT). The engine draws on Nissan’s extensive GT3 competition experience and knowledge.

The E-TS ATTESA all-wheel drive system delivers power to all four 21-inch wheels. The suspension has been revised with a Bilstein DampTronic system and an upgraded Brembo braking system replaces the standard on for stronger stopping power.

2020 Nissan GT-R50 by ItalDesign

The exclusive design involved a number of cosmetic changes, with the roofline being lowered and a restyled rear wing and rear diffuser. There’s also a distinct and large power bulge on the bonnet.

2020 Nissan GT-R50 by ItalDesign

The cabin of the GT-R50 follows that of the standard model but customers can specify personalisation. As standard, the GT-R50 comes with exclusive sports seats, dashboard and centre console of carbonfibre, and an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel.

2020 Nissan GT-R NISMO
The 2020 Nissan GT-R NISMO

This Lego Nissan GT-R Nismo is what you’ll want in 2020

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Some people believe that if you are struck by bird poop, it may be a sign of good luck. After all, of all the humans around you, why would you be the one to get it? For motorists, good luck or not, it’s definitely not good for the car’s paintwork.

Most of us have probably had this problem at one time or another and even when you avoid parking under trees, a blob of poop may fall from the skies as you are driving. It’s unsightly and if not washed off quickly, can cause damage.

Ford

How Ford is helping
Fortunately, Ford vehicles are tested for just this eventuality – with the help of artificial bird poop.  The laboratory-developed synthetic droppings are so realistic that they can accurately reflect the differing diets – and subsequent different acidity of droppings – of most of the birdlife in Europe, where testing is done.

Applied to test panels as a spray, sample pieces are aged at 40° C, 50° C and 60° C in an oven to replicate customer use in extreme heats, pushing the paint corrosion protection to its limits.

The ‘bird poop test’ is just one of the ordeals paint samples are put through. They also spray phosphoric acid mixed with soap detergent, and synthetic pollen on panels before aging them in ovens at 60° C and 80° C for 30 minutes. The test guards against airborne particulates such as pollen and sticky tree sap.

Ford

Extreme sunshine is bad
Intense sunlight can be particularly dangerous for paint as the paint can also soften and expand. And that’s something we certainly have a lot of in Malaysia.  When the paint cools, it contracts and any grime, including bird droppings, attaches itself to the surface. If left on the vehicle for some time, it can leave a permanent mark that requires specialist treatment to remove.

By fine-tuning the pigments, resins and additives that go into making a car’s shiny protective paintwork, specialists can ensure the coating Ford applies to its vehicles has the optimum make-up to resist the impact of these types of pollutants, no matter what the weather.

The science of bird poop
Bird poop is often white and black, but it’s not all poop. The white part is uric acid and is the bird equivalent to urine, formed in the urinary tract. Poop is made in the digestive system and while both can be secreted at the same time, it happens with such speed that the two don’t have time to mix.

Additional paint tests
Other tests for paint samples include being bombarded non-stop with ultraviolet (UV) light for up to 6,000 hours (250 days) in a light lab – simulating 5 years in the brightest place on earth – to evaluate outdoor weathering; getting frozen in sub-zero temperatures; being exposed to harsh winter road grime in a high humidity salt chamber and subjection to simulated fuel staining from vehicle service station over-fuelling.

How to clean bird poop
Leaving bird poop on any car is therefore never a good idea. The advice for any car owner is simply to regularly wash your vehicle with a sponge and lukewarm water containing neutral pH shampoo, and gently remove harmless looking substances from the paintwork immediately. Waxing painted surfaces once or twice a year helps ensure new paint finishes can better resist harshest attacks, while staying shiny for longer.

“With so many cars parked and not moved from their usual spots for long periods in recent times as people stay at home, it’s likely birds are leaving their mark more than usual. It’s wise to remove it before it gets too baked on. But our customers can at least take some consolation in the work we do to help keep their paint protected,” said Andre Thierig, Manager, Core Engineering Paint at Ford of Europe.

Visit www.sdacford.com.my to know more about Ford models available in Malaysia.

New Ford technology can prevent ‘car dooring’ by cyclists (w/VIDEO)

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In Italy after the Scond World War, Alfa Romeo cars were legendary. They were faster than any other car, both on the track and on the road. They were powerful and they always won, like good over evil. It’s not surprising then that the Italian police force chose to use their cars.

From the 1950s, Alfa Romeo cars were selected as the official emergency vehicles. They were known as ‘volanti’ and citizens soon got used to seeing them speeding around.  The cars used by the police were nicknamed ‘Panthers’ and those of the Carabinieri (military police) were called ‘Gazelles’, metaphors that underlined their power and agility.

The very first Panther was an Alfa Romeo 1900, built in 1952 and the first Gazelle came into use a few years later. The most famous police car of all was the Giulia Super, but the police also used many other Alfa Romeo models, from the Matta to the Alfasud, Alfa 75, Alfetta, 156 and the current Giulia in use today.

Alfa Romeo 1900
1952 Alfa Romeo 1900 was the first ‘Panther’.

Alfa Romeo and Italian lifestyle
The history of the brand’s relationship with the Italian Police Force runs parallel with the story of how Alfa Romeo itself evolved over the years. “There are many automotive makes, among which Alfa Romeo stands apart. It is a kind of affliction, the enthusiasm for a means of transport. It’s a lifestyle, a special way of conceiving a motor vehicle,” declared Orazio Satta Puliga, a passionate fan of the brand.

Appointed director of design in 1946, Satta Puglia had a hard task ahead of him. Not only did he need to rebuild everything that had been destroyed by the war, but he also had to transform an artisan company into a modern manufacturing force.

When he started, Alfa Romeo was producing every single mechanical part at its Portello plant, in line with strict criteria of exquisite craftsmanship. He rationalised the process, outsourcing the production of the secondary parts and cutting costs. Meanwhile, he began thinking about creating the new ‘mass produced’ Alfa Romeo models, to be built using the most efficient technical and organisational methodologies around.

The first ‘Panther’
Satta Puliga’s 1900, which dates from 1950, was the first left-hand drive Alfa Romeo and the first to have a self-supporting body. He abandoned the traditional 6 and 8-cylinder engines for a new 4-cylinder version with aluminium cylinder head and two camshafts with chain control.

The engine was powered by a single carburetor, offering brilliant performances and a low taxable horsepower. The 1900 delivered 80 hp; it was agile and fast, but also very easy to drive. It was designed to target a bigger market with the launch slogan:’ The family car that wins races.’

Alfa Romeo BAT-7 concept car
Alfa Romeo BAT-7 concept car displayed at 1954 Turin Motor Show.

The 1900 was also the first Alfa Romeo to be produced on an assembly line. The total manufacturing time needed to produce one vehicle was reduced from 240 hours to just 100, a revolution. This new approach led to an unprecedented success in terms of sales. The 1900 alone sold more than the total Alfa Romeo production of other vehicles up until that time.

Alfa Romeo continued collaborating with its coachbuilders. The Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica (BAT) concept car series was launched on 1900 mechanics, created by Bertone and designed by Franco Scaglione. The same engine as the one used in the 1900 was also adopted by the AR51. Better known as the ‘Matta’, it was a 4×4 launched to replace the post-war off-road vehicles of the Italian Armed Forces.

Alfa Romeo Matta
The Matta, produced between 1951 and 1954 for the Italian military.

The Giulietta story
While with the 1900, Alfa Romeo had embarked on the track of series production, it was with the Giulietta that it truly became a large-scale automotive factory. The man in the driving seat of this transformation was Giuseppe Luraghi. Born in Milan, he also practiced the ‘noble art’ of boxing. He had a reputation as an incredible manager, with a long experience at Pirelli under his belt.

From 1951 to 1958, he was general manager of Finmeccanica, the holding company that controlled Alfa Romeo. After a short period spent at Lanerossi, he returned in 1960 as President of Alfa Romeo, a position he would hold until 1974.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta ti
The Giulietta-ti

Upon his arrival at Alfa Romeo, Luraghi revolutionised how the production was structured, calling in designers Rudolf Hruska and Francesco Quaroni to reorganise the industrial processes. He realised that there was a huge opportunity as the brand had exceptional visibility, its sporting victories thrilled millions of people and fueled their dreams. It was time to translate this success into sales. The economic boom was just around the corner and the car was the most coveted possession. For Luraghi, owning an Alfa Romeo had to become the distinguishing mark of those who had truly made it in life.

From elite product to object of desire, the company now pointed all its design and industrial resources in this new direction. The Giulia was the product of this turning point in the history of Alfa Romeo, a car designed to boost sales but at the same time confirm the brand’s technical tradition and sporting vocation.

The Carabinieri and their fleet of Alfa Romeos.

The first Gazelle
The Giulietta was the first ‘Gazelle’ and is associated with the  link between Alfa Romeo and the police forces. The first Gazelle of the Carabinieri was none other than a Giulietta, destined for the patrol service. In fact, it took up service already equipped with a radio system for communicating with the police headquarters. In the language of the Italian army, the Gazelle represented the patrol vehicle driver: fast, agile and tough. Its engine (entirely of aluminium) delivered 65 hp, able to take the car up to a maximum speed of 165 km/h.

At the 1954 Turin Motorshow in 1954, the Giulietta made its debut in coupe form. The Giulietta Sprint, designed by Bertone, was a low-lying, compact, agile car that became an ‘instant classic’. It is worth noting that the sporty version was modeled on the standard one, an unconventional and typically Alfa Romeo choice that was proposed again a few years ago by Giulia Quadrifoglio.

Giulia, the revolution
Only another revolutionary car could knock the Giulietta off the top spot. Satta Puliga knew this only too well and with his team set to work on developing a new model. The Giulia was one of the first cars in the world with a differently-shaped supporting structure. The front and rear sections were designed to be shock-absorbent (to be called ‘crumple zones’ later on) and the passenger compartment was extremely rigid, to protect its occupants, solutions that would only become compulsory much later.

Alfa Romeo Giulia

The 1.6-litre twin cam engine of Giulia was an evolution of the 1.3-litre 4-cylinder one, and it stood out for its sodium-cooled exhaust valves. The design of Giulia was also revolutionary, with its low front and truncated rear inspired by aerodynamics, inspiring the launch slogan ‘Designed by the wind’. Development work carried out in the wind tunnel reduced the drag coefficient of the car to 0.34 Cd, which was impressive for that era.

The Giulia went on to feature in ‘poliziotteschi’ films made during that period – which later became cult films. In these movies where ‘cops and robbers’ clash, the Alfa Romeo often starred as both the police car and the getaway vehicle.

Alfa Romeo Alfetta
The Malaysian police were the first police force outside Italy to use the Alfetta in the 1970s.

Incidentally, in Malaysia too, Alfa Romeos were used by the police force which was the first to use the Alfetta 2000 sedan (assembled in Malaysia) outside Italy. There was also a fleet of Giulias used as patrol vehicles up till the late 1970s. The cars were supplied by City Motors, then the importer and distributor for Alfa Romeo.

LOOKING BACK: The 1970 Alfa Romeo Montreal

COVID-19

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BHPetrol RON95 Euro4M

Sir Henry Royce once said: “Small things make perfection, but perfection is no small thing.” This has clearly applied to the motorcars of the brand for decades and even when scaled down, perfection is still a must.

As daily driving pleasures have been curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some other of life’s little luxuries have come to the fore. An authentic 1:8 scale replica of a full-sized Cullinan, the first Rolls-Royce SUV, is now available. Reproduced with absolute perfection, each is more than a mere model. Every miniature Cullinan is individually and painstakingly crafted by hand, to the client’s specification, from over 1,000 individual components. This process can take up to 450 hours – over half of the time required to build a full-sized Cullinan.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan model

The replica is then hand-painted using Rolls-Royce colour-matched paint, hand-polished to the marque’s exacting specification; the coachline is even applied using a fine brush, just as it is on the original.

Customers may choose from a palette of around 40,000 ‘standard’ colours, or replicate their own personal Bespoke finish. The fully-functioning exterior lights are operated by a Cullinan-branded remote control, while under the bonnet is a perfect likeness of the ‎iconic 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan model

On opening the coach doors, illuminated treadplates are revealed, leading to an interior designed and executed with the materials, skill and attention to detail lavished on Cullinan itself. From the headrest embroidery and wood finishes to seat piping and stitching, these Bespoke creations allow owners to recreate their full-size vehicle with astonishing accuracy, or even envision future Cullinans to add to their collection.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan model

Presented in a display case at almost a metre in length, the replica is set on a gloss-black base mounted on a plinth allowing it to be appreciated from all angles. The Perspex window can be removed enabling the minutiae of the doors, luggage compartment and engine bay to be viewed in detail.

“This scale replica brings a new dimension to Cullinan’s Effortless, Everywhere philosophy. Our super-luxury SUV is now as perfectly at ease in the serene surroundings of its owner’s residence as it is in the most challenging and hostile terrain on Earth.” Said Torsten Muller-Otvos, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

“It demonstrates, and reminds us as a company, that Inspiring Greatness applies at every scale. It is not just about the big things: we seek and achieve greatness in everything we do, down to the smallest item and minutest detail,” he added.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan
The full-sized Cullinan is priced from RM1.8 million (before including tax).

There are already scale models of the Cullinan being sold online but none would come anywhere close to the quality of this one made by Rolls-Royce. And certainly nowhere near the price which is believed to be around £14,500 (about RM74,500)!

Black Badge Cullinan – The King of the Night completes the Rolls-Royce Black Badge family

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Human interaction has continuously changed over time but now the change has accelerated as a result of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world. We now have to be conscious of social distancing – standing at least a metre apart – and be aware that even shaking hands can be risky as the virus can be transmitted.

Fortunately, we have technology to help us with the changes we must make socially and also in the business world. The ability to connect is still present and in the business world, chatbots have been an integral component of customer engagement for airlines, healthcare, telecommunications, retail, financial services, F&B as well as the news media.

PLUS Malaysia Berhad’s ‘PUTRI’ or PLUS Texting Realtime Interface is one such example, and it can be considered the highway industry’s first ever chatbot. PUTRI is designed to interact with PLUS highway customers and over time, the interactive conversations through its Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning model will allow PUTRI to handle over 70% of the 1,500 calls which PLUS Traffic Monitoring Centre (TMC) receives averagely daily. The majority of the calls are request for standard highway information, which a chatbot can answer right away.

PLUS PUTRI
Two of the ways that the public can interact with PUTRI, instead of waiting for someone from the Call Centre.

With PUTRI’s support, PLUS TMC service levels can be enhanced by allowing the personnel to focus more on emergency calls, and conduct speedier and swifter coordination to assist customers in distress during traffic incidents. The PUTRI Chatbot is easily accessible and more convenient as it provides better speed in providing responses and could reduce the waiting period for callers.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly accelerated our lives to become more digitally dependent and tech-savvy. The increase of bandwidth usage in the country and the world over is a sure sign that we are embracing the use of more gadgets and the communication experience is today more robust. Hence, our PUTRI will provide real time interface to the thousands of enquiries on straightforward highway information,” said PLUS Chief Technology & Innovation Officer, Shamsul Izhan Abdul Majid.

“PUTRI will be able to attend to multiple and simultaneous queries pertaining to PLUS highway service, toll fares, real-time traffic information, inquiries on PLUSMiles, product, facilities, promotions as well as events,” he added.

PLUS highway users can interact with the Beta version of PUTRI throughout the current public pilot phase (launched April 27 2020 on the PLUS website) and the PLUSMiles portal, as well as since  May 11 for the PLUS Mobile App. It will soon be available on social media platforms and WhatsApp applications with bilingual capability.

Between and the full completion date during the third quarter of 2020, PLUS invites users to interact with PUTRI and provide feedback which can assist the development team to identify issues and work on solutions to enhance its technical capabilities.

PLUSRonda celebrates 30 years of service to highway travellers

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ASEAN NCAP – the New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asian Countries – is taking precautionary measures in support of efforts to break the spread of the virus and minimising effects on the community. Understanding that due to current restrictions and the possibility that ASEAN NCAP Inspectors may not be allowed to travel to conduct crash test assessment, the organisation has come up with some solutions. This is in view of crash tests and assessments that have been scheduled to take place.

For new vehicles with kerb weights of 1,400 kgs and below, it is advisable for the test to be conducted at MIROS Provisional CRASE Crash Centre (PC3) laboratory in Melaka, Malaysia. Tests that are conducted at MIROS PC3 will be witnessed by ASEAN NCAP Inspectors.

ASEAN NCAP PC3

For new vehicles with kerb weight of 1,400 kgs and heavier, the test may be performed at other facilities that serve as official laboratories for ASEAN NCAP. The facilities are as stipulated in the Guideline for Crash Laboratory Selection. The tests can be conducted without the presence of ASEAN NCAP Inspectors as witnesses.

With no inspector present for tests conducted at facilities other than MIROS PC3, vehicle manufacturers, crash laboratory representatives and ASEAN NCAP Inspectors may conduct a video conference to perform modifier assessment on the tested vehicle.

For blind spot tests, manufacturers are allowed to submit in-house data. ASEAN NCAP will not delay the implementation of its 2021-2025 assessment protocol.

Although there are changes in the way the assessment is conducted, the same assessment fee still applies as per guidelines.

Latest Honda City scores maximum of 5 stars in ASEAN NCAP test

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BHPetrol RON95 Euro4M

For many years now, Polyphony Digital’s Sony PlayStation 4 (PS4) driving simulation title, Gran Turismo SPORT, has attracted the interest of a number of carmakers who have developed concept models for it. The Gran Turismo Sport title is certified and promoted by the FIA (the world motorsports governing body) as an official platform of digital motorsport.

Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept

From this May 22, a new addition will be the Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept virtual racing car. This new model will automatically grant seed rights to participate in the FIA-certified Gran Turismo Championship (World Tour) that will be held in various locations around the world in the 2020 season.

The RX-Vision GT3 Concept is based on the Mazda RX-VISION which was displayed in 2015. It is modified in accordance with FIA GT3 vehicle regulations. The RX-VISION took on the challenge of achieving the most beautiful front engine rear wheel drive (FR) sportscar that Mazda could conceive, based on the ‘KODO -Soul of Motion’ design theme.

2015 Mazda RX-VISION concept
The RX-VISION concept was unveiled at the 2015 Tokyo Motorshow.

The RX-VISION was selected as the ‘Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year’ in the 33rd Festival Automobile International held in France in January 2016.

At that time, Mazda said it could be equipped with a next-generation ‘SKYACTIV-R’ rotary engine (RE) which naturally excited rotary fans and enthusiasts who await the return of the ‘RE’. Mazda has not ruled out the possibility and said the concept represented ‘the vision of a sportscar that Mazda hopes to make a reality in the future’.

Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept

The GT3 project started in the fourth quarter of 2019 and an image sketch was released at the venue for the world final of the FIA Gran Turismo Championship held in Monaco in November last year. It was announced that the racing car would be added to the 2020 update of Gran Turismo SPORT. From then on, the teams at Polyphony Digital and Mazda Design worked to refine the model using 3D modelling.

Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept

Taking advantage of the original concept’s long-nose/short-deck form, the RX-Vision GT3 Concept has a wider tread. The front midship and transaxle rear wheel drive configuration achieves an ideal 48:52 weight distribution, with excellent aerodynamic characteristics optimized for handling performance and tyre management.

Like the RX-VISION, the RX-Vision GT3 Concept will use a SKYACTIV-R 4-rotor rotary engine with a maximum output of 570 ps (the output and weight may change due to balance of performance (BoP) adjustments depending on the race). Its suspension consists of a double wishbone front and multi-link type rear layout.

Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept

Each function within the cockpit is arranged with an emphasis on ease of operation during the race. In particular, the steering wheel uses a special design that improves operability. The interior layouts of all Mazda models are developed in the pursuit of superior ergonomics. Similarly, the RX-Vision GT3 Concept prioritizes aspects such as seat shape, driving position, pedal arrangement and visibility during driving as essential items to providing a ‘human-centered’ cockpit.

SPECIFICATIONS
Length x Width x Height (mm) : 4590 x 2075 x 1120
Wheelbase (mm) : 2700
Front / rear tread (mm) : 1720 /1760
Vehicle weight (kgS) : 1,250
Engine displacement (cc) : 2600
Maximum output (ps/rpm) : 570/9,000
Maximum torque (Nm/rpm) : 540/7,500
Tyres and Wheels : Michelin – 310 / 700 – 18

Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept

Michelin is the Official Tyre Technology Partner for Gran Turismo

COVID-19

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BHPetrol RON95 Euro4M

As expected, with the whole country virtually shut down during the month of April, new vehicle sales did not take place at all. The latest summary of April data from the Malaysia Automotive Association (MAA) shows that only 141 vehicles were delivered, of which 131 were passenger vehicles. We’re not sure how these were delivered with the Movement Control Order (MCO) active but they would have been units already registered earlier since the JPJ was closed.

This is the lowest ever volume in the history of the industry; even in the first year of local assembly in 1967, the Total Industry Volume (TIV) was 16,615 units. The only time there would have been such a massive fall would probably have been during World War II!

APRIL 2020 MAA
Source: Monthly reports of Malaysian Automotive Association

The MCO was activated on March 18 so there were at least some two weeks for sales and deliveries, and the TIV for that month was 22,478 units, about half the number sold in February. There’s obviously no point comparing the TIV of April 2020 to that of 2019 but if you want to know, for the same month last year, the TIV was 49,935 units.

Production likewise fell since factories were ordered to shut down although at a later stage of the MCO, limited production was permitted – but only for vehicles to be exported and not for the domestic market. Only 275 vehicles were produced, of which 240 were passenger vehicles.

Production MAA
Source: Monthly reports of the Malaysian Automotive Association

Of course, there was no point assembling for the domestic market anyway since the showrooms were closed and dealerships could not operate so they would not have needed new stocks. Production for the domestic market has only resumed recently and only for the high-volume brands would there be a need to meet outstanding orders made prior to the MCO starting.

At the beginning of this year, the MAA forecast the 2020 TIV as 600,000 units but in view of the massive contraction, it has revised the number by 33% to 400,000 units. That’s a TIV level almost similar to what was achieved 19 years ago in 2001. Analysts in some companies do not think it will be that bad and forecast a range of between 8% and 16.5%. However, the MAA normally makes it forecasts based on input from its members, the car companies, who would have a better sense of the market.

Showroom and e-showroom
It may be some time before showrooms see meaningful customer traffic. In the meantime, some companies (like Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia) are bringing their e-showrooms into homes.

With only 141 units in April, the TIV can’t really go any lower so May should see a higher number. But with the impact of the pandemic on the country and the financial strains on consumers, there may be reluctance to buy new vehicles in the immediate future. Many will have reduced incomes if they have not lost their jobs altogether, and there is still much uncertainty about the future.

Over 50% drop in sales as MCO brings car industry to a standstill

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It has been said so many times: no interstate travel is allowed during this Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) period and that includes balik kampung trips for Hari Raya this year. Yet, in recent days, the traffic has been increasing on certain highways, especially those leading out of Selangor to other states. While permission is granted to those travelling for legitimate work reasons, surely there can’t be so many that a kilometres-long jam started forming.

So it must be people ‘trying luck’ to go to another state where their kampung or hometown is, and if they cannot pass through the roadblock, they might try again tomorrow. So far, it seems the police have been lenient and those without permits are told to turn around. According to the police, a total of 118,852 vehicles were at 14 roadblocks around Selangor from last May 13 until yesterday, and over 2,400 were not allowed to continue and had to turn back.

Now, the authorities have decided enough is enough and there will be immediate issuance of summonses for not following the CMCO. The fine is RM1,000 and magistrates are unlikely to be tolerant of this defiance of the law, and might even add a jail term.

Jam on N-S Highway
The congested situation along the N-S Expressway near Tg. Malim today.

Highway jam

CMCO
The announcement sent to mobilephone users nationwide this evening. There should be no excuse to be unaware of the prohibition.

There will be more roadblocks set up and in Selangor, 5 roadblocks will be set up along the North-South Expressway as well as other highways leading out of the Klang Valley. Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the Senior Minister who briefs the media daily on CMCO developments, said that that ‘there will be no more interstate travel allowed during the CMCO period’. He advised people not to waste time waiting at police stations to apply for permits. “The police will not allow anyone to travel interstate anymore,” he said.

Why is there a prohibition on interstate travel? The reason is to prevent wider spread of the COVID-19 virus around the country. Each time an area has infected persons, the Health Ministry has to quickly do contact-tracing to identify who the carrier was in contact with and quarantine them. The carrier who started spreading the disease may not have been aware as there are some cases where symptoms are not evident, or take a longer time to show. But during that time, they are a threat to others as the virus continues to spread through close contact.

HighwayTraffic jam near Juru today.

Imagine if there is no restriction on travel, some people who are infected will carry the disease back to their hometowns or kampungs which have so far been lucky not to have any cases and start a ‘cluster’. The whole area will have to be quarantined, causing inconvenience to the residents, and if there are very old people, there is a high risk of them getting seriously ill and even dying.

In one case, a pregnant woman travelled across state borders Kuala Lumpur to Kelantan because she wanted to give birth in the state. She lives in Ampang, which is a ‘red zone’, and was unaware she was infected. She carried the virus to Kelantan which did not have an active COVID-19 case since the end of April. As a result, not only must she be quarantined but everyone she came in contact with has been at risk of also being infected.

Netizens who have seen pictures of the jams on the highways have posted angry responses at what they consider as ‘selfish acts’. It is gratifying to know that many Malaysians understand the seriousness of the matter and why the prohibition is necessary but there are still many who seem to refuse to obey the laws and be a threat to others.

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