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 ©The
Star (Used by permission)
• PM: Terengganu must follow decision to use Perdanas
for exco members
• Terengganu's Mercedes Benzes only for foreign VIPs, says PM
• Terengganu’s cars only cost RM542 a year, says Proton
• RM88,000 for upkeep of Perak exco man’s Perdana
BESUT: Former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh is contemplating legal action
against the Terengganu government for putting him in a bad light over the Proton
Perdana V6 Executive controversy.
His special assistant, Kamarulazman Idris, said a lawyer had been engaged to
study legal action on the statement issued by the state government that
RM235,123.08 had been paid to maintain the Proton Perdana V6 Executive used by
Idris from 2004 to this year.
The actual amount used to maintain the car (registration TS 12) was
RM131,449.83, he pointed out.
“My boss’ reputation as Jerteh assemblyman has been smeared due to the
statement,” he said.
On Thursday, State Secretary Datuk Mokthar Nong apologised for the error, adding
that it was made by a clerk in his office who miscalculated the total sum
incurred to service the car used by Idris
Kamarulazman said it baffled him why the state government was quick to provide
the erroneous figure to the media after the state exco meeting in Kuala Lumpur
on Wednesday.
“The damage is already done and his (Idris’) reputation is tarnished,” he added.
Kamarulazman said the issue should not be deliberately politicised just because
Idris was abroad and was unable to counter any allegations against him.
Idris is completing a six-month management course in Paris and is scheduled to
return on Aug 8.
PM: Terengganu must follow decision to use Perdanas for
exco members
by Jane Ritikos and R.S.N. Murali
PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet has decided the official cars for executive councillors
have to be Proton Perdanas and Terengganu must abide by the decision.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the state's executive
council members would therefore not be allowed to use any of 14 Mercedes-Benz
E200 Kompressors the state bought for RM3.43mil as replacements for their Proton
Perdana V6 Executives.
The Mercedes-Benz cars can only be used for visiting foreign dignitaries and
guests of the state.
Abdullah said the Terengganu Government was allowed to keep the cars because
losses would be incurred if they were sold off.
Speaking to reporters after the National Academic Awards 2007 event at the
Putrajaya International Convention Centre yesterday, Abdullah said he had a
meeting with his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Terengganu Mentri Besar
Datuk Ahmad Said on Thursday night.
“We said the important thing was that the Cabinet had decided the state
government should not use the cars for its executive council members,” he said.
“I said: 'Use the Mercedes-Benz cars for guests who are visiting',” he said.
Najib, at a separate press conference in Kuala Terengganu, said Terengganu could
keep the Mercedes-Benz cars but that they should only be used as official cars
for visiting dignitaries.
The policy of using the Proton Perdana as official cars for executive council
members and ex-officio members still remained, he said.
Earlier in Kuala Terengganu, a jovial Ahmad told the press that the matter had
been resolved. However, he kept reporters guessing over whether the executive
council members would be allowed to use the Mercedes-Benz cars.
“Yes, we reached a consensus on the matter during the meeting at Putra World
Trade Centre (on Thursday). The matter has been solved. I cannot elaborate
further,” he said.
When asked whether the cars could be now regarded as official cars for state
executive council members, Ahmad said: “Make your own presumption. I said the
matter had been solved.”
Ahmad said he explained to Abdullah and Najib the rationale for switching from
the Proton Perdana to the Mercedes-Benz and that the reasons were accepted.
“I told them that the state government has not spent extravagantly and the
decision to procure the Mercedes-Benz was done after two years of evaluation,”
he said.
Ahmad described his meeting with both Abdullah and Najib as cordial.
He also denied that the state government had ordered a tax-free RM600,000
Mercedes-Benz S class for his use.
“I have no intention of changing my Mercedes-Benz E240 that is now 18 years old.
Let people speculate if they wish to do so,” he said.
On Thursday, State Secretary Datuk Mokthar Nong vehemently denied that the state
Treasury had placed a deposit for the Mercedes-Benz for Ahmad.
Terengganu's Mercedes Benzes only for foreign VIPs, says
PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Terengganu can keep its 14 Mercedes Benzes bought for RM3.43mil
recently but they can only be used for foreign dignitaries.
That was the decision reached by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,
his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad
Said.
“We said (to Ahmad) the important thing was that the Cabinet had decided that
the state government should not use the cars for its executive councillors.
“I said use the Mercedes cars for guests who are visiting,” Abdullah said
yesterday.
Najib, who was in Kuala Terengganu last night, also repeated the message that
the 14 Mercedes E200 Kompressors could only be used for visiting dignitaries,
and even then, for major functions. Earlier in the morning, Ahmad had tried to
give the impression that the councillors could still use the cars by saying that
the matter had been resolved.
“I told them that the state government has not spent extravagantly and the
decision to procure the Mercedes cars was done after two years of evaluation,”
he said.
When asked whether the Mercedes Benzes would be used as official cars, Ahmad
replied “Wait and see.
“I have also received support from other state leaders and ministers on my move
(to replace the Proton Perdanas).”
Terengganu’s cars only cost RM542 a year, says Proton
PETALING JAYA: The average maintenance cost for each Perdana car sent by the
Terengganu Government was only RM542 per year, said Proton Holdings Bhd managing
director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir.
He said in a statement yesterday that this was based on records of 35 cars sent
by the state government to its authorised service outlets.
He also said Proton was currently reviewing its service data and records
involving all Proton vehicles, particularly the Perdana, sent for maintenance by
the Government.
“We are more than willing to provide all necessary assistance to the state
governments if they require clarification on issues relating to the Perdana or
any other Proton vehicles bought by them,” he said.
Syed Zainal said RM542 was a reasonable figure, adding that the average total
maintenance cost for a car travelling up to 30,000km per year was RM2,300 and
would increase with heavier usage.
He was commenting on the state government’s disputed purchase of 14
Mercedes-Benz E200 Kompressors for the use of its executive councillors to
replace its Perdana V6 fleet, which were said to be too costly to maintain.
RM88,000 for upkeep of Perak exco man’s Perdana
IPOH: A Perak executive councillor’s Proton Perdana V6, inherited from the
previous Barisan Nasional state government, cost a whopping RM88,000 to service
and repair from 2004.
State Health, Environment and Human Resources Committee chairman A. Sivanesan
said the Perdana assigned to him needed its engine and various parts fixed in
the last four years.
“Now the gearbox is giving me problems, and that will cost another RM15,000,”
said the Pakatan Rakyat executive council member.
“Just last Sunday, the lights failed to work when I was travelling from Parit to
Bidor at night. I had to travel using my high beams,” he added.
Sivanesan said fellow executive council member Thomas Su Keong Siong’s Perdana
was awaiting an overhaul while assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar needed to have his
car’s gearbox changed, too.
Sivanesan said that if the Perak government needed to get new official cars he
would recommend the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry.
Meanwhile, in Kuala Terengganu, Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak
supported Terengganu's decision to use the Mercedes-Benz as the official car.
Azizan said the decision was timely due to the high cost of fuel.
“Assemblymen are required to travel widely and in extreme conditions where they
have to rely on their vehicle.
“We are not condemning the national car but the cost of maintaining the Proton
Perdanas is actually very high,” he said after opening the Hulu Terengganu’s PAS
annual meeting at Kampung Lembek here yesterday.
He said one Kedah assemblyman had to change his Proton Perdana because of
frequent breakdowns.
“I myself use a Mercedes-Benz as an official car,” he added.
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