Proton Will Produce 60,000 Face Shields For Malaysian Frontliners Within 20 Days
The production started today, 13 April, and will last until 2 May.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 13 Apr 2020, 05:26 PM
Proton Holdings Berhad has pledged to produce 60,000 face shields to help protect Malaysian frontliners from contracting COVID-19 while on duty
According to Bernama, the national automobile manufacturer is starting the production at its Shah Alam headquarters today, 13 April.
The face shields - an important Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) component worn by medical officers on the frontlines - will be made by a group of volunteer employees.
Proton is targeting to complete a production of 60,000 units in approximately 20 days
Working closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH), the company will distribute the face shields in batches according to the level of need in each district.
"As a national automotive brand, Proton is driven by its responsibility to develop the local car industry and support Malaysia and its people in their time of need," said its deputy chief executive officer Datuk Radzaif Mohamed in a statement.
"We have the knowhow to produce cars. So, we are using that knowledge to produce PPEs to support the brave men and women on the frontline in containing the spread of COVID-19."
Proton Holdings has also loaned 50 units of Proton X70 - sport utility vehicles (SUVs) - to the government amidst the Movement Control Order (MCO).
In other parts of the world, many car manufacturers have also taken a similar initiative to help their local governments produce crucial equipment to the pandemic
Companies such as Ford, General Motors, Ferrari, Fiat, McLaren, Nissan, among others, have reportedly driven off-course to halt car manufacturing and start building ventilators.
Daily Mail reported that even aeroplane manufacture Airbus has also joined the battle against COVID-19 by building ventilators for British hospitals.
