The Prime Minister of Malaysia, The Honourable Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, and the Premier of the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Li Qiang, jointly viewed the all-new Proton Saga and Proton e.MAS 5 during the first public showcase held in conjunction with the ASEAN Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

Also in attendance were key figures including the Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, YB Dato’ Seri Utama Mohamad Hasan; Chairman of Geely Holding Group, Eric Li Shufu; and Chairman of PROTON, Tan Sri Syed Faisal Albar. Their presence underscored the growing significance of the Malaysia-China partnership in advancing industrial and technological cooperation.

The joint showcase of PROTON’s upcoming models — the all-new Proton Saga and Proton e.MAS 5 — highlights the success of the strategic partnership between DRB-HICOM Berhad and Geely Holding Group. This collaboration has been pivotal in transforming PROTON into a modern, globally competitive automaker by merging Malaysian engineering excellence with Geely’s world-class technology.

Through this partnership, PROTON continues to foster local innovation and develop new technical expertise, reinforcing Malaysia’s ambition to build a sustainable and advanced automotive ecosystem.

The all-new Proton Saga, developed under PROTON’s Advanced Modular Architecture platform, marks a significant achievement for Malaysian automotive engineering. It is the first vehicle to be fully designed, engineered, and validated by Malaysian talent, with technical input from Geely. Importantly, PROTON holds full intellectual property rights (IPR) for the model — a testament to the brand’s growing independence and capability in creating world-class vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Proton e.MAS 5 — Malaysia’s first affordable electric vehicle — embodies the nation’s commitment to sustainable mobility. Building on the success of the e.MAS 7, this new model supports the Government’s National Energy Transition Roadmap, paving the way for broader EV adoption across the country.

The ASEAN Summit showcase not only celebrates Malaysia-China cooperation but also aligns with Malaysia’s long-term vision to become a regional automotive powerhouse. Central to this ambition is the Automotive Hi-Tech Valley (AHTV) in Tanjong Malim, Perak — a major initiative that will serve as a hub for innovation, investment, and advanced manufacturing.

By championing projects like AHTV, Malaysia aims to position itself at the forefront of the regional automotive industry, fostering sustainable growth while deepening industrial collaboration with strategic partners such as China.

The presence of both Prime Ministers at this landmark event symbolises a shared commitment to progress — one that blends Malaysian creativity with Chinese technological excellence, driving both nations toward a more connected and sustainable automotive future.