KLANG: The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) is evaluating five foreign automotive assemblers and the Government may allow them to operate in the country in a few months.

Mida chief executive officer Datuk Jalilah Baba said the foreign assemblers were from China, India, South Korea and Japan.

She said the liberalisation of the automotive industry was in line with the objectives of the recently changed National Automotive Policy (NAP).

The NAP was introduced in March 2006 to facilitate the transformation and help integrate the local automotive industry to become more globally competitive.

However, the liberalisation comes with some restrictions as the foreign players are only allowed to assemble cars with an engine capacity of 1800cc or more.

Jalilah said Mida did not expect local car assemblers to be adversely affected with the entry of the foreign players.

“The foreign players embrace green technology and will be assembling mainly electric and hybrid cars and some conventional cars,” she told reporters after a site visit to PKT Logistics (M) Sdn Bhd warehouse and headquarters yesterday.

PKT Logistics’ warehouse, called One Logistic Hub, is a three-phase development sited on 10.9ha.

PKT Logistics managing director and group chief executive Datuk Michael Tio said the total investment in One Logistic Hub, including land, was RM150mil.

He said PKT Logistics currently had a revenue of RM150mil but targeted to achieve RM1bil revenue in five years, and the company would continue to expand its warehouse facilities.

“The second phase of One Logistic Hub, costing RM65mil, is known as The Waves and it will be our largest warehouse.

“It will have 45 container loading bays, 24/7 CCTV security and over 30,000 pallet positions and is slated to be built by October,” Tio said.

The first phase, called The Ship, was completed in September last year and the third phase of the warehouse, The Lighthouse, is expected to be built at a later date.

Tio said about 85% of the company’s revenue now was derived from warehousing automotive parts and the balance 15% from other sectors such as retail and fast-moving consumer goods.

He also said PKT Logistics was on track for a listing on Bursa Malaysia by mid next year.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed was present to officiate The Ship and visited the site of The Waves.