Penang CM gets new official car

GEORGE TOWN: The Chief Minister has a new ride, courtesy of the state government to replace his seven-year-old official car.

In a statement, state secretary Datuk Abdul Razak Jaafar said Chow Kon Yeow has been given a Mercedes S560e to replace his previous official car, a Mercedes S300L.

"He has been given a new official car today as replacement for his previous car bought in 2013 for RM298,263.

"The selenite grey car was bought on Dec 31 last year for RM458,000.

"The purchase was approved by the state executive council on Nov 29,2019," he said on Thursday (Jan 7).

Abdul Razak said the car was bought after a discount of RM127,765.

Earlier, Chow said the new car was a replacement for his previous official car.

In 2014, when then Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was given the Mercedes-Benz S300L as his official car, it was criticised by then Barisan Nasional politicians and DAP’s Pakatan Rakyat partners.

The car was obtained to replace Lim’s 18-year-old official car, a Mercedes-Benz S320.

Lim was quoted as saying he was entitled to use two Mercedes-Benz models - S400 and S300 - but chose the S300L which was bought for RM298,263.75 after tax exemption and the discount.

“The car was bought because of the tax exemption as well as the discount, ” he said.