UMW Toyota Motor's Mohd Shamsor Is New President of MAA

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UMW Toyota Motor’s Mohd Shamsor bin Mohd Zain Is New President of MAA

The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) has announced its Council members for 2023/2024 after the association’s recent Annual General Meeting. Leading the Council as President is Mohd Shamsor Bin Mohd Zain, who succeeds the late Datuk Aishah Ahmad.

Encik Mohd. Shamsor, who is the Director, Marketing Group & ITSD at UMW Toyota Motor, said the new MAA team will continue with the good work undertaken by Datuk Aishah Ahmad. “We will uphold the strong working relationships with key stakeholders such as government ministries and agencies, as well as the media. Together with all MAA members, we will grow this association from strength to strength, for the good of our industry, society and country. I look forward to the continued strong support from all MAA members as we contribute to the robust development of the nation’s automotive industry,” he said.

Two past MAA Vice-Presidents have also returned to their respective positions on the council. They are Tan Keng Meng (Tan Chong & Sons Motor Co. Sdn Bhd) and Sarly Adle Bin Sarkum (Honda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd).

Low Yuan Lung (Sime Darby Hyundai Sdn. Bhd) was also elected as a Vice-President, with Arman Mahadi (Daihatsu (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd) having the role Honorary Secretary/Treasurer.

Completing the leadership team for the term 2023/2024 are five re-elected Council Members, namely Derrick Sim (Hap Seng Trucks Distribution Sdn Bhd), David Nah (Isuzu Malaysia Sdn Bhd), Dato’ Samson Anand George (Kia Malaysia Sdn Bhd), Hoffen Teh (Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia Sdn Bhd), and Say Teck Ming(Tan Chong Industrial Equipment Sdn Bhd). Syed Muzri Syed Faiz (Jaguar Land Rover (M) Sdn. Bhd) has been elected as a new Council member.

History and role of the MAA
The MAA was originally established in 1960 as the Federation of Malaya Motor Traders Association (FMMTA). The objective of the FMMTA was to discuss issues relating to the motor industry which, at that time, involved the import and distribution of motor vehicles only in completely built-up (CBU) form.

The founding members of the FMMTA were Ampang Motors, Asia Motors, Borneo Motors, Champion Motors, Cycle & Carriage, Anglo-American Corporation, Orchard Motors, Tan Chong & Sons Motor Company, Wearne Brothers and The East Asiatic Company.

When the Malaysian government announced the motor vehicle local assembly programme in the mid-1960s, another industry group was established in response to the government initiative. This was the Malaysian Motor Vehicle Assemblers Association (MMVAA) which was formed in April 1966.

As the country’s name had become ‘Malaysia’, the name of the FMMTA was also changed to reflect this, and it became the Malaysian Motor Traders Association (MMTA) in 1968. In the years that followed, the role of the MMTA would become more significant as the association represented the rapidly growing motor trade and industry in many ways. The association served as the point of contact between the industry (the motor companies, in particular) and the government to clarify issues and resolve any difficulties encountered by members. At the same time too, the MMVAA represented the assemblers’ interests, particularly in the area of local content requirements.

*^{For decades, the MAA has represented both the manufacturing and sales sides of the Malaysian auto industry.}*

In the late 1990s, the government urged associations and agencies within the same industry to merge for more efficient interaction. This led to the merging of the MMTA and MMVAA and the formation of the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) on January 26, 2000.

As the MAA was a major industry group, it was accorded recognition by government agencies and was thus able to effectively make representations. Also equally important has been the MAA’s role in informing the public on the issues relating to the industry, its position and objectives, as well as compiling data.

The MAA has also been recognised internationally as a representative of the Malaysian motor industry and is actively involved in many regional and international auto industry activities. It has close links with leading organisations in ASEAN and Japan and has had a good presence in numerous international forums.

From being a small group of 10 companies, the MAA today has the membership almost all the companies holding franchises for various brands as well as the plants involved in assembling vehicles. It continues to play a major role in the development of the industry, serving as a vital link between the government and those involved in the industry and trade.