1979 - PERUSAHAAN OTOMOBIL NASIONAL

The photograph you shared captures a pivotal moment in Malaysian history. The man on the right (in the uniform) is Ismail Jaafar, a retired army staff sergeant who won the national contest to name Malaysia’s first car. The man on the left is a representative of Proton, presenting him with the keys to the very car he named: the Proton Saga.

The Birth of a National Icon

The story of Proton (an acronym for Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional) began in 1979 as the vision of then-Deputy Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. He wanted to accelerate Malaysia's industrialization and reduce reliance on imported vehicles.

• Foundation: Proton was officially incorporated on May 7, 1983.
• The Partnership: Since Malaysia lacked automotive manufacturing infrastructure, Proton partnered with Mitsubishi Motors. The first Saga was based on the 1983 Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore.
• The Launch: The Proton Saga was officially launched on July 9, 1985. It was priced at approximately RM17,575, making car ownership accessible to the Malaysian middle class for the first time.

Why "Saga"?

The name was chosen from over 100,000 contest entries. Ismail Jaafar proposed "Saga" not just because of the hardy red seed common in Malaysia, but also as an acronym for:

Safety

Achievement

Greatness

Ability

Evolution and Key Milestones

Era	Key Event
1980s	The Saga captures 64% of the domestic market. Exports begin to the UK in 1989.
1990s	Launch of the Proton Wira (1993) and the acquisition of Lotus Cars (1996), which greatly improved Proton's handling and engineering.
2000s	Launch of the Waja, the first car designed in-house, and the CamPro engine.
2017	A major turning point: Geely (Zhejiang Geely Holding Group) acquired a 49.9% stake in Proton, leading to a technological revival with models like the X70 and X50 SUVs.

Today, the Proton Saga remains the longest-running and best-selling nameplate in Malaysia, with over 2 million units sold worldwide.

The 1985 Proton Saga was a historic milestone for Malaysia, representing the nation's entry into heavy industrialization. Here are the key details of that original first model:

Key Features of the 1985 Launch Model:

• Design: Based on the Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore, it featured a "boxy" 80s aesthetic with sharp lines and a simple grille.
• Engine Options: It debuted with a 1.3-liter Orion 4G13 engine. A 1.5-liter version (the 4G15) was introduced shortly after.
• The "Saga" Name: As mentioned before, it was named after the Saga seed (Abrus precatorius), known for its consistency in weight and durability.
• Iconic Colors: The most recognizable launch colors were white, silver, and a specific shade of metallic blue.
• The Gearbox: Initially, it only came with a 5-speed manual transmission. The automatic version didn't arrive until 1987.

Interesting Trivia:

• The First Unit: The very first Proton Saga to roll off the assembly line was a metallic blue 1.3L manual, which was presented to the National Museum of Malaysia.
• Symbolism: When Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad drove the first Saga across the Penang Bridge (which also opened in 1985), it became a powerful symbol of Malaysian progress.
• Market Dominance: Because it was protected by government tax exemptions for national cars, it was significantly cheaper than competitors like the Toyota Corolla or Nissan Sunny, allowing it to capture the majority of the Malaysian car market within just a few years.

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7 January 2026: 11.41 p.m