At the brand presentation of Proton e.MAS yesterday, the national carmaker mislabelled Sabah and Sarawak on a map of Malaysia to illustrate the first 17 dealerships for the EV sub-brand. Proton is aware of the mistake, and it has issued a statement regarding the matter.

“Proton acknowledges an error in a presentation mislabelling the states of Sabah and Sarawak,” the statement reads. “We deeply regret this mistake and understand the sensitivities it has stirred among our fellow Malaysians. Proton holds the unity and diversity of Malaysia in the highest regard, and we are committed to respecting and celebrating all states equally.”

It’s a regrettable mistake to be sure, but it’s good that Proton is issuing a statement relatively quickly after the general public noticed the error.

As for the e.MAS brand itself, the very first EV from the Proton sub-brand will be released sometime in December 2024, which is quite a bit quicker than the original 2025 release estimate. It will be built on a dedicated EV platform, though the body style of the model has not been revealed yet.

Nonetheless, rumours are suggesting that the first Proton e.MAS EV could be based on the Geely Galaxy E5, which is an electric SUV that shares the same platform as the smart #1 and smart #3. We will find out for ourselves as we approach closer to the December launch of the first e.MAS model.