Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Even before the Kiat-Esemka car making success hit the headlines, a Muhammadiyah vocational school in Central Java had already produced 50 autos in various types, Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin said.

Speaking at the opening of an Islamic Plastic Arts Exhibition here Monday, Din said among the car types made by the Muhammadiyah Borobudur Vocational High School 2 were ambulances already being used by Muhammadiyah hospitals.

Another type of car produced by the students was one in the same class as the Toyota Fortuner with a price tag of only Rp169 million, said Din who would soon visit the school to test drive one of its products.

Din said cars assembled by the vocation school students were currently being examined by the Muhammadiyah`s Economic and Entrepreneurship Council and be brandnamed "Sang Surya".

He hoped People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Deputy Speaker Hajriyanto Y Tohari who was present at the exhibition`s opening ceremony would be prepared to buy one of the cars and thereby set an example to other legislators.

The students had made the cars in collaboration with the Muhammamdiyah University of Surakarta (UMS) and were determined to gradually increase the cars` local contents so that they would really deserve the predicate of "national car." .

The principal of the Muhammadiyah Borobudur Vocationtal Highschool 2 , Yitno BE, said most of the cars assembled by the school`s students were public transport minibuses, tour vehicles, ambulances, vendor cars, minitrucks and theatrical stage buses.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives (DPR)`s Commission VI dealing with industry, trade and state enterprises has scheduled hearing to support the acceleration of efforts to produce a national car in light of the Kiat-Esemka car making achievement. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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