COVID-19 Archives

The F1 Safety Car will have a new look for the first F1 race of 2020 this Sunday

It’s a familiar sight at the Formula 1 World Championship – the car that is in the lead when there’s been an accident on the track, or the weather conditions are very bad. It’s a Mercedes-AMG and it leads the field of F1 cars around the track while emergency work is being done or to await weather conditions improving.

It’s been this way for 25 years, and for 20 of those years, Bernd Maylander has been at the steering wheel of the Official FIA F1 Safety Car provided by Mercedes-AMG. Even the colour scheme of the car with its silver paint and black decor has stayed the same.

But for the 2020 season, things will change. The AMG GT R will take its position at the racetrack with a new look this weekend. The car will prominently support the Formula 1 campaign ‘WeRaceAsOne’ by featuring its rainbow key visual on the flanks and on the bonnet of the car. The eye-catching design symbolizes the sports commitment for diversity and inclusion.

Formula 1’s return to racing this weekend in Austria – the start of the 2020 season – will be used as an opportunity to thank people all over the world for their strength and resilience in the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic. The sport will also show its unity in the fight against racism and its commitment to do more to address inequality in Formula 1.

As a sign of this commitment, rainbow visuals and the hashtag #WeRaceAsOne will feature on all Formula 1 cars and around the racetrack. The rainbow was chosen as it has become a symbol that is used internationally to bring communities together.

In addition to the ‘WeRaceAsOne’ campaign, the call to ‘Drive Safely’ will be visible on the bonnet the Official FIA F1 Safety Car, addressing fans at home who are watching the race on TV or via livestream and reminding them to always drive in a careful and considerate way.

Maylander’s ‘company car’ also uses the hashtag #PurposeDriven to promote the FIA’s commitment to safety, sustainability, gender equality and diversity, and points out the FIA Action for Road Safety with mentions on the roof and tailgate of the car.

From a technical perspective, the Official FIA F1 Safety Car remains unchanged. It is still powered by a 4-litre 595-bhp V8 biturbo engine, and it has sophisticated active aerodynamics and intelligent lightweight construction. The installed AMG Track Package provides roll-over protection and the ceramic high-performance composite brake system ensures strong stopping power.

The FIA requirements for the Official FIA F1 Safety Car have always been. It must be able to maintain a high minimum speed so that the tyres and brakes of the Formula 1 cars do not lose too much temperature and the engines do not overheat. With a top speed of 318 km/h and 3.6 seconds to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h, the AMG GT R has enough performance to qualify for the role at the front.

Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Estate Official FIA F1 Medical Car — In addition to the Safety Car, the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Estate is also on stand-by at every race for emergencies. The Official FIA F1 Medical Car of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship will also have the new design.

In addition to the Safety Car, the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Estate is also on stand-by at every race for emergencies as the Official FIA F1 Medical Car of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. It will also sport the new design.

This weekend’s race will be the first of two that will be held in Austria’s Red Bull Ring. The second round will be held the following weekend. The weekend after that will see a round run in Hungary and then on August 2, the F1 teams will cross over to England for a race at the Silverstone Circuit. The British circuit will also host a second race the following weekend (August 9), after which will be events in Spain, Belgium and Italy.

The series of races in Europe will end on September 8, by which time the organisers should have been able to schedule additional races. The plan is to have races resuming in Eurasia, Asia and the Americas and finish in the Middle East venues of Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. In total, it is hoped that 15 to 18 races can be run before the year ends.

It will be a new environment for the participants as there won’t be spectators. The risks of close proximity of crowds spreading the coronavirus have led to an agreement that races can be run, but spectators cannot be present in the stands. The events will therefore rely entirely on TV broadcasts and livestreaming over the internet.

Participants will have to go through strict screening and minimise their numbers in the pits. The organisers say that should anyone show a positive result when tested for COVID-19, it should not affect the race which will go on. Hopefully, there will be no evidence of the event causing transmission of the coronavirus so that governments in other countries will have more confidence to allow races to be run in their countries.

2020 F1 championship to start in July with up to 18 races planned in 6 months

Perodua contributes face shields to Hulu Selangor schools

Ahead of the reopening of schools on tomorrow, Perodua has distributed over 5,000 face shields produced by its associate to 17 secondary schools in the Hulu Selangor district which the vehicle manufacturing complex is situated in.

For Form 5 and Form 6 students
“We contribute these face shields for the use of Form 5 and Form 6 students, teachers and support staff as they return to school after a 3-month closure brought about by the Movement Control Order (MCO),” said Perodua President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad. “Although our children, teachers and support staff will no doubt be returning to school wearing face masks, the wearing of face shields would serve as a good extra precautionary measure.

“As a caring, People First company, we believe in going beyond when it comes to safety, especially when our beloved children are involved and particularly those less fortunate,” he added.

The face shield features a fog-resistant visor made of polyethylene terephthalate for optimal visibility, sponge cushioning that hugs the forehead to act as a barrier against airborne droplets, and an adjustable elastic band for a snug and comfortable fit.

The Malaysian carmaker also contributed face shields to the Hulu Selangor District Education Office in Kuala Kubu Bharu.

Contributing to the fight against COVID-19
“Perodua is happy to be contributing to Malaysia’s fight against COVID-19 by continuing to make face shields and we are looking at distributing them to community clinics in the Hulu Selangor district very soon,” Dato’ Zainal said.

“We thank the government, especially the Health Ministry, and all frontliners for working so hard to guide our nation through the COVID-19 crisis. Although we have made considerable progress, we hope the Malaysian public will continue exercising caution and complying with all health and safety guidelines,” he added.

War on COVID-19 – Perodua contributes RM2 million to NADMA-COVID 19 Fund

Two more WEC races to be run, with replanned Le Mans 24 Hours in September

The 24 Hours of Le Mans race, typically held in June, had to be postponed to the 19/20 weekend of September due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s the 88^th edition this year, and well aware of the financial impact of the situation on racing teams, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) was keen to ensure that their resources are not tied up over too long a period.

In agreement with the FIA and the main partners and stakeholders of the international event, the event will have a packed 4-day schedule for the 62 teams confirmed to be taking part. Between Thursday and Sunday, there will be 4 free practice sessions, qualifying, the Hyperpole session and a warm-up, culminating with the 24-hour endurance race itself.

Compact time-frame
The schedule of practice sessions – vital to good race preparation – has been rearranged, with qualifying, the warm-up and the race, packed into a 4-day time-frame. This is expected to maintain the requisite level of quality for such an iconic international event.

The traditional scrutineering procedures will take place at the Circuit on Wednesday before the 62 cars take to the track on Thursday for the free practice sessions, qualifying and night-time practice. Friday will see more practice sessions and the much-awaited new Hyperpole shoot-out where 24 competitors will battle it out on the 13.626-km circuit in a test of sheer speed, without the ‘heavy traffic’!

Hyperpole format
The Hyperpole qualifying format replaces the previous approach which involved 6 hours of qualifying in 3 two-hour sessions over Wednesday and Thursday. It was confirmed late last year to determine the top positions on the grid. The top six cars in each of the four classes during a 45-minute qualifying period will go forward to the Hyperpole session.

The 24 cars that make it through to this shoot-out session will be allowed one run because they will not be permitted to return to their pit during the 30 minutes. Teams will have free choice of tyres within the existing allocation for qualifying and the race.

Pierre Fillon, President of the ACO, explained that the new format was aimed at ‘guaranteeing two exciting sessions for both drivers and spectators, where all the focus will be on sheer speed in a quest for the perfect lap’.

Last year, the starting time of the 2020 race was changed to 4 pm on Saturday, one hour later than usual. However, in replanning the whole event program this year, the race itself will start at 2:30 pm on Saturday.

The race at Le Mans will be the finale for the 2019/2020 World Endurance Championship (WEC). The season began with the 4 Hours of Silverstone in September 2019 and races were run in Japan, China, Bahrain, and the USA (Texas). There was also a second race to be held in the USA at Sebring but this was cancelled due to the pandemic. Before Le Mans, there will be a round at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium in August.

Looking ahead
The 2020/2021 WEC season will see the brand new Le Mans Hypercar category in place of the LMP1 category. Assuming the pandemic diminishes and countries are less restrictive, there are 8 races (ranging from 6 hours to 24 hours) scheduled to be run in Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa and the USA. Two new venues – Monza in Italy and Kyalami in South Africa will be on the calendar.

Aston Martin Valkyrie — *Aston Martin was initially among the participants of the new Hypercar category with its Valkyrie but has put the racing project on hold. It will continue to race in the WEC with the Vantage GTE.*

Interstate travel allowed from Wednesday as CMCO ends

Finally, the restriction on interstate travel will end on June 9, coinciding with the ending of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) as scheduled. Announcing this today, the Prime Minister said that travel restrictions would only apply to areas which are under an Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO). These would be places which have a high number of COVID-19 cases and the authorities need to prevent further spread by limiting movement in and out of the areas.

From June 10 (Wednesday), the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) will replace the CMCO and Malaysians will be able to carry out almost all activities – including having their hair cut. Most economic sectors have been allowed to resume operations, along with the lifting of restrictions on most social, educational and religious activities (some in phases). The RMCO will run till August 31, 2020.

However, the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2020, which gives legal power to enforce necessary actions remains in effect. It was gazetted on March 18 when the MCO started and provides for penalties for offences committed as well as the introduction of Standard Operating Procedures.

ROADBLOCK — *During the initial period of the MCO, roadblocks were set up around cities and towns to strictly enforce the movement restrictions.*

As the situation showed signs of improving, some restrictions ended or were modified although interstate travel remained prohibited except for 4 days when those trapped in other towns when the MCO started were permitted to travel back to their places of residence.

Balik kampung for Hari Raya was prohibited
The prohibition on interstate travel was particularly frustrating as it was on during the Hari Raya festive period. The government made a firm decision to not allow the usual ‘balik kampung’ journeys and while most Malaysians complied, there were many who tried to sneak across borders. They were unwilling to understand that the prohibition was to prevent spread of the coronavirus, which some may have been infected with without knowing it.

Karak Highway — *Those who have missed their Sunday drives around the countryside can do so again without being stopped at roadblocks.*

The freedom to drive anywhere in Malaysia again will certainly be welcome, especially for those who have missed their usual Sunday drives through the countryside. Perhaps this episode should also make us appreciate the freedom we have to do things which we enjoy, in safety. In some countries where there are wars, movements are limited and we have had a short experience of such a condition. Hopefully, we don’t have to go through it again.

Risk is less but threat remains
Meanwhile, the RCMO signals another phase towards normalizing life in Malaysia but it does not mean the threat of the COVID-19 coronavirus is gone. It is lessened but the risks are still there with 1,531 active cases. Failure to continue observing the recommended practices such as social distancing (minimum of 1 metre apart), washing hands frequently and using facemasks in crowded areas can result in transmission of the coronavirus. Anyone can be infected but it is the older folks who are at higher risk, as well as those already having certain health problems. COVID-19 is very vicious and those who are weak or with weak immune systems won’t be able to fight against it to recover.

As we move out of the CMCO, PISTON.MY would like to express our deepest gratitude to all the frontliners, especially those at hospitals, who have put themselves at risk in trying to help and treat infected patients. Let’s not waste their efforts and sacrifices. Now the responsibility to prevent a return of the pandemic in Malaysia is for all of us to take on and we should not become complacent.

Exemption of sales tax for new vehicle purchases, effective from June 15, 2020!

Sales of new vehicles will not require payment of Sales Tax this year. For models that are assembled locally (CKD), the exemption will be 100% while for imported (CBU) models, the exemption will be 50%.

These are incentives which the Prime Minister today announced as part of the Short-Term Economic Recovery Plan. The plan has 40 iniatives totalling RM35 billion and the tax exemptions for the auto industry are for the period from June 15 until December 31, 2020.

Sales tax is set at 10% so purchasers of locally-assembled models will not have to pay that entire amount, while those who buy CBU models will have to pay half of the sales tax that would be payable. The revisions should be quite straightforward although the car companies will now have to accept that people will hold back their purchases for another 10 days.

Among the first in the industry to comment on the development, UMW Toyota Motor’s President, Ravindran K. said: “This is indeed good news for the auto industry and we are grateful to the government for assisting this sector. The full savings will be passed on to customers and we expect that the reduced prices will help to revitalize the automotive industry.”

Mr. Ravindran said that the company already has new models planned for launch this year. “With the tax exemptions, we will be making the relevant adjustments to the retail prices of all our models and apply them by June 15,” he added.

“The Malaysian auto industry, like those in other countries, has been greatly affected by the long period of inactivity during the Movement Control Order period. Apart from lost sales and production, there is also consumer sentiment which is uncertain of the future. Therefore, we appreciate the support from the government to help boost the industry,” said Akio Takeyama,
Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been very hard on virtually every industrial sector, not just in Malaysia but also in other countries. As the situation eases, governments are now looking at ways to help industries recover as quickly as possible so the economy can be revitalized.

The auto sector in Malaysia is no exception and the shutdown will have implications on the Total Industry Volume in 2020. The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) has given a forecast of 400,000 units.

Ford’s smart technology can sanitize police vehicles within 15 minutes

In pre-pandemic times, policemen in vehicles transporting people to hospitals or police stations have had the risk of picking up diseases from their passengers. But that was a reasonable risk in their line of duty. Today though, the COVID-19 coronavirus is a threat so serious that personnel who have to interact with people known to be infected must wear personal protection equipment. However, policemen have no way of knowing if a person they arrest or help is infected and the best they can do to protect themselves is to wear a mask and gloves.

“Law enforcement officers are being dispatched as emergency responders in some cases where ambulances may not be available,” said Stephen Tyler, Ford police brand marketing manager. “During one trip, officers may be transporting a coronavirus patient to a hospital, while another trip may involve an occupant who may be asymptomatic (showing no signs of being infected).”

A Ford engineering team had already initiated a project in late March to look for ways to decontaminate vehicles and around that time, the New York City Police Department also alerted Ford to its need for a more efficient disinfecting process as the pandemic grew in intensity.

One approach they considered was using heat. Ongoing research suggests that the coronavirus cannot tolerate very high temperatures and can be deactivated. Ford worked with The Ohio State University to determine the temperature range and time needed.

Hotter than Death Valley
The solution: Bake the vehicle’s interior until viruses inside are inactivated. Using the Ford Police Interceptor Utility’s own hybrid powertrain and climate control systems, a software solution enables vehicles to elevate passenger compartment temperatures beyond 56 degrees C. (132.8 degrees F) – hotter than Death Valley on its hottest day – for 15 minutes, long enough to help disinfect vehicle touchpoints.

The software warms up the engine to an elevated level, and both heat and fan settings operate on high. The software automatically monitors interior temperatures until the entire passenger compartment hits the optimal level, then that extreme temperature is maintained for 15 minutes.

Operational trials with vehicles owned by some police departments indicated that the high temperature could reduce the viral concentration inside the vehicle by more than 99%. This heated process can be used by law enforcement regularly to help sanitize vehicles when officers are not inside.

Greater coverage
When used in conjunction with sanitization guidelines approved by US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, flooding the passenger compartment with elevated air temperature can help reach areas that may be missed by manual disinfecting procedures. Heat has the ability to seep into crevices and hard-to-reach areas, helping reduce the impact of human error in applying chemical disinfectants.

“Officers can now use this self-cleaning mode as an extra layer of protection inside the vehicle in areas where manual cleaning is prone to be overlooked,” said Tyler. “This virus is an invisible enemy and we are proud to provide a solution to help the law enforcement community fight it.”

There are multiple ways to monitor progress of the heating. Hazard lights and taillights will flash in a pre-set pattern to notify when the process has begun, then will change at the end to signal completion. The vehicle’s instrument cluster will also indicate progress. A cool-down process brings the temperature down from its highest points.

This example of Ford’s smart vehicle technology can be installed in Police Interceptor Utility vehicles that were supplied between 2012 and 2019. The police departments with their own service centres can install the software using their own diagnostic service tools or dealers can do the job.

Ford Police Interceptor Utility Hybrid — *Ford Police Interceptor Utility has a hybrid powertrain*

“First responders are on the front lines protecting all of us. They are exposed to the virus and are in dire need of protective measures,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford Chief Product Development and Purchasing Officer. “We looked at what’s in our arsenal and how we could step up to help. In this case, we’ve turned the vehicle’s powertrain and heat control systems into a virus neutralizer.”

To locate a dealership to test-drive or buy Ford vehicles in Malaysia, visit www.sdacford.com.my.

How motorists can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19

ASEAN NCAP revises crash test assessment procedures in view of COVID-19 pandemic

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.

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

‘No’ means NO on interstate travel but there are people who insist on breaking the law

Hari Raya Aidilfitri (expected to fall on May 24) is approaching but this year, with the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to stop its spread, the government has declared that the traditional ‘balik kampung’ journeys cannot take place. There are great risks in allowing thousands to travel around the country as some may be carriers of the virus which has so far caused 114 deaths from almost 7,000 infected cases.

Malaysia is fortunate not to have the thousands of deaths that have occurred in some other countries and while the pandemic won’t completely end for some time, it is at least moderated to some extent in this country. That’s thanks, in a large part, to the hard work and sacrifices of the frontliners, especially those in hospitals.

Also helping to ‘flatten the curve’ of infections was the introduction of the Movement Control Order on March 18. The aim of the MCO is to cut the transmission of the virus by restricting contact and interaction among the population. Overnight, the country was virtually shut down as people were told to stay at home and the police and army were ordered to enforce the regulation strictly.

The MCO included a prohibition on interstate travel because it makes things more difficult to trace the movements of virus carriers who may bring it to their hometowns that might not have been affected in the first place. Contact-tracing is a crucial part of suppressing the spread as people who have been in contact with the carrier will be quarantined so they do not pass it on to others.

The prohibition on interstate travel is still on and the only exception was during four days recently when special permission was given to allow those who had been trapped in other places to return to their homes in other states. And that too required application and approval by the police who checked for valid reasons. Other than that, only in emergency cases will permission be granted, and the police are firm on this.

On many occasions, announcements have been made to remind people that they should not make any ‘balik kampung’ trips. By now, no Malaysian should be unaware of this restriction and yet, it appears that there are people who are desperate to travel to their hometowns. But there are roadblocks and if they have no authorization letter, they will be made to turn around. If they make things difficult, they could also get charged for not complying with the MCO which carries a RM1,000 fine and/or a jail term.

In fact, the police have reported the number of people trying to cross state lines increasing and they must be getting fed up with such law-breakers. Now they have announced that they will also be conducting checks in certain areas where there are many vehicles outside homes (a sign that may suggest many returnees) and owners of vehicles with registration plates from other states. It is an unnecessary waste of time as they have many other more important duties to carry out.

According to the Health Ministry, around 14% (971) of the total number of Covid-19 cases have a history of inter-state travel, meaning the infected persons brought the virus from one state to another. “About 18 clusters, from a total of 48 clusters recorded in the country, are linked to activities which involved crossing state borders. Ten of these clusters are still active,” said the Director-General at the Ministry of Health, Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, who is troubled by the number.

The implications of carrying the virus to the homes of parents or relatives in another state just don’t seem to be understood enough. It is known that older people are more vulnerable and can be seriously affected by the virus. It is known that there are some people who may not show symptoms of the virus immediately but they are already spreading it. If these senseless people who insist on going to the homes of their elders cause them to be infected and die, how will they ever live with that?

Yes, it is understandable that the family should be together on Hari Raya but these are extraordinary circumstances and as many say, there will still be other years to celebrate together. Carry the virus home and you may never celebrate with some of those loved ones again.

As Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham has warned, unless there is good compliance with the MCO/CMCO, the restrictions will have to remain in place. In the eyes of the Health Ministry, there is still a lot of non-compliance when so many are trying to ‘balik kampung’ even though they are not allowed to. Because of these people, the rest of us have to continue to endure restricted movements. Please do not be selfish and just stay in your state.

War on COVID-19: Honda modifies Odyssey to protect crew when transporting COVID-19 patients

The war against the COVID-19 coronavirus is a global one as 196 out of 197 countries have cases. Besides government efforts, individuals, various types of organisations and companies are also contributing in various ways. Where the auto industry is concerned, R&D capabilities and mass production facilities have been used to make much-needed Personal Protection Equipment.

Some carmakers have also looked at how they can make their vehicles safer for healthcare workers to travel in. Unlike making conventional ambulances which would usually transport patients without infections, the ones used to transport people potentially infected with COVID-19 must be designed to protect the healthcare workers and also the driver and other crew.

In America, Honda has made modifications and installed additional items in 10 units of the Odyssey MPV for use by the City of Detroit. To protect the health of the driver from the potential for droplet infection during transportation, the MPVs have been fitted with a plastic barrier installed behind the front seating area. Modifications have been made to the ventilation system to maintain an air pressure differential between the front and rear seating areas.

Honda Odyssey COVID-19 transporter — *Installing the clear polycarbonate barrier to isolate the rear compartment from the front*

The MPVs were configured by a team of volunteers at Honda’s R&D centre in the state of Ohio. Senior engineers and fabrication experts quickly conceived and designed a method to modify the Odyssey at the company’s vehicle development centre where it was originally developed. They took less than two weeks from initial concept to completion.

All material fabrication and installation, and adjustments to the software for the Odyssey’s ventilation system, was done entirely in-house. The software controlling the ventilation system was tuned to assure the air pressure to create an environment inside the cabin like the negative pressure rooms in medical and research facilities.

Specifically, the software has been tuned to run the blower motor powering the fans in the front seating area faster than the fans for the rear seating area. The resulting air pressure differential creates a more negative pressure chamber in the rear seating area, with rear compartment air exhausted out the vents in the rear of the vehicle. This would greatly reduce the potential for droplet infection migration during transportation.

War on COVID-19: Mercedes-Benz converts bus specially for transporting patients

War on COVID-19: Geely donates RM5.5 million of medical supplies to Malaysia

From the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, the Geely Holding Group was already actively working on ways to join in the fight against the virus. Apart from making donations and providing support vehicles for frontliners, the company also used its R&D capabilities to quickly develop an in-car ventilation system that can keep the cabin air virus-free.

Now that the critical situation in China has diminished and the country is progressing towards normalcy, Geely Holding is helping other countries that are having the pandemic. In the case of Malaysia, where Geely and its local partner DRB-HICOM own and operate Proton, assistance is being given in the form of medical supplies.

The donation, consisting of disposable 3-ply surgical masks, protective medical clothing, medical goggles and PL 700 ADV ventilators, all of which are constantly required as they are replaced frequently. These items will be distributed to 55 hospitals located throughout the country through the Ministry of Health.

The donation, worth approximately RM5.5 million, is part of a larger initiative by Geely Holding to supply medical equipment via the Li Shufu Charity Foundation to affected areas in China and to countries where it has significant international operations. It aims to help local healthcare providers and communities at large in their battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The foundation was established in 2006 by Geely Holding’s founder, Li Shufu, with a focus on poverty alleviation and helping with national disasters. In January 2020, it set aside RMB200 million (about RM120.33 million) to support the fight against COVID-19 on a global basis.

“As a socially responsible company, we have a duty to support the well-being of every market in which we operate. I am proud that we have the resources and logistics capability to ship vital supplies to areas hard-hit by this global pandemic. We will play our part, whenever possible, to lend support to communities and medical authorities to overcome this global challenge”, said Geely Holding’s Chairman, Li Shufu.

PROTON X70 — *Some of the X70 SUVs loaned by Proton to the Health Ministry.*

In addition to medical supplies received from China, Proton has loaned 50 units of its X70 to the Ministry of Health for their logistical operations. The carmaker has also produced 60,000 units of face shields at its factory.

Meanwhile, DRB-HICOM has been an active supporter of COVID-19 relief efforts in Malaysia. Along with other subsidiaries under its parent company, the Albukhary Group, the Malaysian conglomerate has contributed cash donations, medical equipment, meals for government hospitals, media frontliners and university students, as well as long-range drones for monitoring and surveillance purposes.

“As a key contributor to the nation’s economy, we felt compelled to assist the government in its battle against the spread of COVID-19. The frontliners form the country’s backbone in this fight, and it is essential for us to assist them in any way possible. We are especially fortunate to have a partner like Geely who has been extremely generous in leveraging their resources to make this happen,” said Dato’ Sri Syed Faisal Albar, Chairman of Proton.

Geely sends medical equipment and supplies to Malaysia and other countries

Piston.my

COVID-19

The F1 Safety Car will have a new look for the first F1 race of 2020 this Sunday

Perodua contributes face shields to Hulu Selangor schools

Two more WEC races to be run, with replanned Le Mans 24 Hours in September

Interstate travel allowed from Wednesday as CMCO ends

Exemption of sales tax for new vehicle purchases, effective from June 15, 2020!

Ford’s smart technology can sanitize police vehicles within 15 minutes

ASEAN NCAP revises crash test assessment procedures in view of COVID-19 pandemic

‘No’ means NO on interstate travel but there are people who insist on breaking the law

War on COVID-19: Honda modifies Odyssey to protect crew when transporting COVID-19 patients

War on COVID-19: Geely donates RM5.5 million of medical supplies to Malaysia

Honda Malaysia prepares for the New Normal at dealerships

Workforce of the two Malaysian carmakers vaccinated via PIKAS

52% drop in new Honda vehicle sales in Malaysia from May to July year-on-year

Tan Chong Motor Holdings organises in-house vaccination programme for employees

PLUS headquarters selected as Integrated Public Vaccination Centre

Perodua provides two cars for shuttle services at MAEPS quarantine centre

RM80,000 of medical supplies from Perodua for Hospital Sg. Buloh

2021 Tokyo Motorshow cancelled, next one may be in 2022 or 2023

Roadtax renewals at post offices suspended, lane closures on Penang Bridge

Premium Volvo facemasks now available from authorised dealerships nationwide

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Review: Proton S70 – Sedan Done Right

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