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PENAMPANG: Sabah Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship (MIDE) Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe urged MForce Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd to set up a factory in Sabah so that the people here can enjoy motorcycling at a cheaper price.

He said Sabah’s cost of living remains high as all upstream and raw materials are imported leaving the state with no supply chain security.

“Instead of setting up more outlets and selling products mostly from the peninsula, imagine the cost past the congestion at the ports…that certainly affects Sabah consumers. That’s why the State Government is committed and remains steadfast in bringing home the supply chain.

“More assembly plants should be established here. This is why I encouraged MForce Managing Director Datuk Seri Tan Lean Heah to submit proposals while telling him the customers are here.

“If the (motorcycle) plant were set up here, it would be good for the manufacturer as well making it more competitive with the other brands,” he said, after launching MForce’s biggest bike shop and service centre in Malaysia, Mforce Best Shop, by Wang Maju Motor Sdn Bhd at Nambazan, on Saturday.

Wang Maju Motor General Director Jackson Oi said the company had come a long way since 2022. After opening Best Shop branches in Papar, Beaufort, Putatan, Keningau and Labuan, this is their first in Bandar Baru Penampang.

“We are determined to constantly upgrade our services in order to serve the customer better. Wang Maju Motor gives a broad range of choices from 110CC to 1250CC bikes.

MForce Bike Holdings Chief Operating Officer Asri Ahmad said the 12,000 sq ft shop makes it their biggest in Malaysia.

He said Wang Maju Motor is the second top MForce dealer out of 300 from all over Malaysia. 

Their outstanding sales performance has brought them to the level of Platinum Dealer.

“MForce is a Penang based company that has been importing, assembling and distributing several well-known motorcycle brands since 2008.

”Our factory operates as a CKD or local assembly and has established partnerships with several well-known motorcycle manufacturers from Taiwan, Italy, China, Vietnam, Austria and others.

“Apart from the transfer of technology, this joint venture has also produced skilled workers among local citizens. 

“Among the motorcycle brands imported as CKD are SYM, Benelli, QJMotor, Brixton and Moto morini,” he said in his speech.

To support the government’s desire to increase the number of electric vehicles (EVs), Asri said MForce entered a joint venture with the largest electric motorcycle manufacturer from China, the Yadea Group, which aims to market high-quality electric motorcycles in Malaysia.

“The first model launched since January this year is the E8S Pro which has received approval from the Road Transport Department.