Malaysia expects to present its first flying automobile prototype to the general public this yr, said Minister of Entrepreneurship Development Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof on Tuesday (Feb 26). The prototype, which was developed locally, is secure and might fly at low altitudes at an inexpensive speed, he added.
Malaysia’s first flying automobile will probably be powered by local technology, says Entrepreneurship Development Minister Datuk Seri Redzuan Md Yusof.
He said a prototype of the automobile is now available and is anticipated to be unveiled to the general public this yr.
“This year is a realistic target because we have the technology. It’s all about speed of implementation,” he told reporters after launching the Growth Malaysia initiative here today.
He said the automobile can be secure and will fly at low altitudes at an inexpensive speed.
“The investment to build the prototype will be just over RM1 million,” he said.
Mohd Redzuan said the flying automobile project is a way for the federal government to create an environment that stimulates people to take into consideration recent technologies.
“We provide a catalyst and an ecosystem that stimulates people to think beyond what we do today,” he said.
He said the project also goals to leverage the country’s potential within the aviation, drones, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and automotive sectors.
“Malaysia has the skills to excel in aerospace, drones, UAVs and domestic cars, so we need to leverage our skill set because the bottom line is we want to be a manufacturing country,” he said.
He, nonetheless, said the project was separate from the third national automobile project envisaged by the Prime Minister.
On Growth Malaysia, he said the initiative is being led by online-to-offline platform operator Fave to assist offline retailers in Malaysia go digital in payments, marketing, data and financial services.
“This is in line with the ministry’s mission to expand and coordinate entrepreneurship activities to make them more focused,” he said.
Fave founder Joel Neoh said the initiative goals to assist 100,000 restaurants across Malaysia grow digitally by 2020.
“As the world evolves to go digital, offline businesses, especially those in the food and beverage and retail industries, must catch up and adapt to growing changes in consumer behavior or risk being left behind ” – he said.
He said Grab Malaysia, Maybank, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, Funding Societies and Productivity Nexus for Retail and Food and Beverages are also collaborating on this initiative. — Named
