Eh?

Now this is a big surprise...but is it for better or for worse? After months of subdued silence, a report surfaced a week ago that a deal was at hand between Khazanah and a foreign carmaker (bandied around to be Volkswagen AG), bringing cheers I'm sure to many a beleaguered investor in Proton. Even as late as Monday, there was high expectations that the long-drawn out negotiations were coming to a conclusion.

Well that was surely shortlived as the headlines blared out today! I don't know, but I have a feeling that this announcement caught a lot of people by surprise.

More importantly, why the sudden about-turn? Were there unseen forces at hand in the decision? And was nationalistic pride again put ahead of business consideration in the decision making process? I guess we'll have to wait and see...