Malaysian-made Proton cars are parked at its factory in Shah Alam, outside Kuala Lumpur on October 19, 2005. Malaysia unveiled plans on Wednesday to become a Southeast Asian hub for making cars, throwing down a challenge to neighbouring [Thailand]. The government will encourage more foreign investment in the sector through incentives such as soft loans and grants and will take away an important tax break from the state-controlled car-maker Proton Holdings Bhd, a government statement said.