At a press conference after the launch of the National Transport Policy 2019-2030, Mahathir was asked if the country was ready, in terms of safety regulations, for a flying car given that a prototype will be ready by the end of the year.

“At the moment, we are not ready. A lot of people talk about flying cars.

“Just imagine if everybody owned a flying car. There will be a traffic jam up there and policemen will also be flying, directing traffic. It will be a little bit of a problem.”

Mahathir said although flying cars have been built in Europe and the US, the use of such cars was another matter.

On United Nations’ rapporteur on poverty and human rights Phillip Alston’s reported remarks that the project would be a waste of resources, Mahathir said, “I think when we receive advice, we always consider the advice.

“If they say it’s not good, after examination, we’ll say you are right, it’s not good.”

Earlier today, Entrepreneur Development Minister Redzuan Yusof again spoke on the “flying car” project, saying it can cut short travel time from Kuala Lumpur to Penang to just one hour instead of four hours by road.

The Alor Gajah MP told the Dewan Rakyat today that discussions were ongoing with high-technology providers, adding that the air mobility project could take off as early as next year.