"Hey! Time to change a new car, huh?"

"Never strike the lottery, lah!"

"I heard cars will be cheaper after the new automotive policy is announced."

"Indeed it's been announced, but no tax cuts. How to get cheaper cars?"

"Then you'd better keep the old car!"

"Not that easy either! The government says cars 15 years or older must go through checks before they can be on the road again!"

"Then send for checks!"

"Where?"

"Should be Puspakom, I guess."

"Oh my! When I bought my car last time, I sent it there for checks. I went a total of three times, and waited a total of 12 hours, plus the travelling time, almost 24 hours!"

"Get done in the end?"

"Yes, but with lots of 'lubricants.' I have since sworn that I'll rather ride a bike than send my car to that damned place again!"

"Perhaps the government should make it improve its efficiency, or have its inspection privileges withdrawn."

"I'm afraid it'll become a monopolised business and get from bad to worse."

"Owners of old cars will have to go through another tier of inspection burden! How pathetic!"

"More than just another burden. It's like a layer of our skin torn off the body!"

"Not that serious, right?"

"I'm not exaggerating! The new policy states that imports of second-hand spare parts will be banned effective 2011."

"That's going to be killing! Many old cars are still running on the road because of imported second-hand parts."

"Your're absolutely right. If we're looking for second-hand parts in the future, unless we have local substitutes, we may have to get them from the original manufacturers."

"Local parts are unlikely. And original manufacturers may not be producing these parts anymore, but if they do, the prices are not going to be cheap."

"It appears that the new policy has not brought any pleasant surprise to the consumers."

"The National Automotive Policy remains the National Automotive Protective Policy, very much the same after 25 years!"

"I thought we have WTO, AFTA and things like that?"

"Our government always goes its way, whatever happens to the world. In short, you've got to get the national car!"

"What about the AP which has been much talked about since Mahathir's time? Is it going to be abolished at all?"

"Not so soon! It's been postponed to 2015."

"Goodness! Those making quick money will have a few more good years ahead!"

"God knows! It could be postponed again to 2050, thanks to the NAP!" (By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)