KUALA LUMPUR – Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari (Gombak-PH) has accused Bersatu MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (Machang-PN) of twisting facts related to the impending closure of Goodyear Malaysia’s manufacturing plant in Shah Alam.
Amirudin refuted claims that the closure was the government’s fault, highlighting the tyre manufacturer’s restructuring measures initiated due to stiff competition from other companies. He cited Goodyear’s shutdown of its Ohio factory in 2023 and scaled-back global operations as part of their restructuring efforts due to high costs.
“In 2023, Goodyear shut down its factory in Ohio, United States (and its) scaled back operations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia affected 1,200 workers.
“I read Goodyear’s annual report (regarding) their business restructuring moves due to high costs. They’re seeking to (operate their business) in places like Vietnam with lower labour costs,” Amirudin said during his parliamentary debate on the royal address.
Earlier, Wan Fayhsal, who is also Bersatu Youth chief, had claimed that Goodyear’s closure of its 52-year-old Shah Alam plant is a sign of international firms losing confidence in Malaysia’s economic situation.
Responding to Mohd Sany Hamzan’s (Hulu Langat-PH) assertions that Wan Fayhsal was “lying” on the claims, Amirudin said that he views the Bersatu lawmaker’s remarks as an attempt to “twist reality.”
“He (Wan Fayhsal) is not lying, but he’s twisting (facts) away from the reality and actual situation (to create) a negative perception of the government at a time when we’re working to defend our economy,” Amirudin said.
Previously, in a leaked internal memo, Goodyear’s Asia Pacific president Nathaniel Madarang said the closure of the Shah Alam plant, effective June 30 this year, is part of the company’s “transformation programme”.
He also said that approximately 550 jobs in its Malaysia operations will be affected.
While the Shah Alam plant itself was established in 1972, the sale of Goodyear products in Malaysia began in 1929 through the office of the Goodyear Sales Company, which was established in Singapore.
Following reports on the closure, former international and trade industry minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz urged the government to respond to the matter, asserting that the nation should not rely on memorandums of understanding and instead ensure memorandums of undertaking are in place.
She also said that the government should obtain details on how many companies have shut down operations in Malaysia and the factors behind such moves. – March 7, 2024