PUTRAJAYA (June 12): Transport Minister Anthony Loke does not see a zero-sum game in choosing between the possibility of establishing the third national car company, and improving the public transport infrastructure. 

"I do not see a zero-sum game on that. Let's wait for the Prime Minister to announce it further," Loke told reporters at the Transport Ministry's office here today.

Earlier, Loke was asked to comment on the latest statement by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to establish a third national car company in collaboration with Asian countries such as Thailand, South Korea or Japan. 

Speaking at a Nikkei Conference at Japan recently, Mahathir had said the idea to establish the new national car company, which will be the third after Proton Holdings Bhd and Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd or Perodua, will enable Malaysia to penetrate and cater for the global auto market. 

Meanwhile, Loke said the Transport Ministry has terminated a seven-month contract which is worth RM808,629.48 and has awarded it to Pemandu Associates Sdn Bhd to "perform ministerial communication functions."

"I discovered that this company has been awarded with the contract to perform ministerial communications tasks, such as writing a column at The Star," he said. 

"We don't need to spend such a large sum of this, as this was outsourced. I certainly do not need an outside company to guide me in communicating with the media and the rakyat," he added. 

Loke said the contract was awarded by his predecessor Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai from the previous Barisan Nasional administration which was ousted in the 14th general election on May 9.

Separately, Loke said the government has yet to consider a plan to revive the RM2 billion Klang-Kuala Lumpur bus rapid transit project which was scrapped by the previous administration, as it will overlap with the third light rail transit (LRT3) project. 

On the RM110 billion Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high speed rail project, Loke said the government is waiting for further clarity from the Prime Minister's office on whether the gargantuan job is either to be reviewed or cancelled.