KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 — Proton recorded sales of 16,995 units in May, outperforming the wider automotive market despite an estimated 15.4 per cent month-on-month decline in total industry volume.

In a statement today, the national carmaker said its year-to-date sales for the first five months of 2026 stood at 84,294 units, up 38 per cent from the same period last year, with an estimated market share of 26.7 per cent.

It said the Saga returned as Malaysia’s best-selling vehicle in May, with 7,398 units delivered during the month and 37,375 units sold year-to-date.

The company said its e.MAS range also topped electrified vehicle charts, with the e.MAS 7 PHEV becoming Malaysia’s best-selling plug-in hybrid electric vehicle after 1,181 units were delivered in May and 2,936 units sold cumulatively since its February 4 launch.

It added that the e.MAS 7 EV reclaimed the top spot among electric vehicles in Malaysia in May with 958 units delivered, while the e.MAS 5 remained Malaysia’s best-selling EV year-to-date with 9,357 units sold.

Proton also said the S70 recorded 2,350 units in May, while the X50 remained the best-selling model in its SUV class and segment with 2,793 units delivered.

Deputy chief executive officer Dato. Ir. Abdul Rashid Musa said Proton’s 2026 performance showed Malaysians continued to respond to products offering “strong value, advanced technology, and a rewarding ownership experience”.

The company said its e.MAS models delivered 3,022 units in May across domestic and export markets, bringing year-to-date sales to 14,687 units, led by the e.MAS 7 PHEV with 1,181 units and the e.MAS 7 EV with 958 units.

PRO-NET chief executive officer Zhang Qiang said the response to the e.MAS range reflected growing consumer confidence in electrified vehicles, adding that Proton was strengthening supply as local assembly ramps up for the e.MAS 7 and begins for the e.MAS 5.

MARANG, June 4 — A Rohingya man pleaded not guilty at the Magistrate’s Court here today to a charge of dangerous driving causing the death of a motorcyclist on Jalan Kuala Terengganu-Kuantan, near Rusila here, last week.

Shah Dullah Abul Hashim, 20, made the plea after the charge was read out to him before Magistrate Nur Athirah Hashim.

The unemployed man was charged with driving a Proton Saga car dangerously, causing an accident with a Yamaha RXZ motorcycle and the death of Saifullah Isyraf Shamsudin, 27.

The act was allegedly committed at Kilometre 12.5 of Jalan Kuala Terengganu-Kuantan near Kampung Rusila here at 6 pm on May 27.

He was charged under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333/87), which provides imprisonment of between five and 10 years and a fine of between RM20,000 and RM50,000, upon conviction.

The court granted Shah Dullah bail of RM6,000 with one surety, ordered him to report to the nearest police station every month, and set July 8 for mention. — Bernama

MELAKA, June 2 — A one-month-old baby boy was injured after being thrown from a car in a crash involving two vehicles along the Lebuh Alor Gajah-Melaka Tengah-Jasin (AMJ) near a petrol station in Balai Panjang here last night.

Acting Melaka Tengah district police chief Supt Halim Abas said the incident occurred at about 10pm when a Proton Saga with the baby boy and his parents on board was exiting a petrol station onto Lebuh AMJ before it was involved in a crash with another vehicle.

“As a result of the incident, the baby, who was in his mother’s lap in the rear passenger seat, was thrown from the car onto a nearby grass verge.

“The baby suffered swelling to the head, while the mother experienced back pain and the father was uninjured,” he said in a statement here today.

Halim said both victims were treated at Melaka Hospital before being allowed to return home after their conditions were confirmed stable.

He said police had identified the other vehicle involved in the incident, and further investigations into the case were being carried out.

The case is being investigated under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, and members of the public with information on the incident are urged to contact investigating officer Insp Ahmad Adhwa Jamal, at 011-26905852 to assist in the investigation. — Bernama