Speaking at Maara’s annual dinner last night, Maara president Khan Akram Khan noted that the floods at the end of last year cost RM6.1 billion in losses, with vehicles making up a sizable portion of the sum.

“We may be faced with floods again this year, and Maara will work with the community communications department (J-Kom) to carry out corporate social responsibility work,” he said.

“Our members are experienced in repairing and recycling vehicles,” he said, adding that he hoped such assistance would help reduce the burden on flood victims whose vehicles are damaged.

The meteorological department has forecasted heavy rains from mid-November, saying it could lead to major floods at the end of the month.

This year’s annual dinner was Maara’s first after two years, with more than 1,000 guests attending, comprising representatives from the government and its agencies, other associations, and NGOs.

In his speech, Khan also highlighted Maara’s collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to draft an end-of-life vehicle (ELV) blueprint for the government.

The blueprint will act as a guideline to manage ELV’s in line with the National Automotive Policy 2020.

In a statement, Maara said it hoped last night’s dinner would help bring the associations, NGOs and government agencies closer together for better collaboration and communication in sustaining the automotive industry and helping the community.

An NGO which aims to promote the automotive recycling industry in Malaysia, Maara’s 250 members across the country consist of industry players in the recycling sector such as importers, exporters, retailers, wholesalers, workshop operators and remanufacturers.