GEORGE TOWN: The new official car of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng — a Mercedes-Benz S300L — continues to draw attention on social media.
Netizens have widely shared a news article by a Chinese daily in 2008, which reported Lim’s criticism of the Terengganu government’s decision then to get a fleet of Mercedes-Benz as official cars.
While some commented that Lim had not walked his talk, others accepted his explanation that he had gotten the car at a much cheaper price.
According to the Facebook posting, Lim had told a press conference in July 2008 that Terengganu’s decision to get Mercedes-Benz as official cars was not thoughtful.
The cost of living is high and the people are suffering but the Terengganu government is spending RM3.43mil to get Mercedes-Benz as official cars.
“This shows that when the people are suffering, Umno leaders are enjoying themselves,” he was quoted as saying in the report.
He had also said Terengganu should have considered cars manufactured by Japan, which were cheaper.
Asked about the Facebook posting, Lim said he was not sure if the Terengganu state government had applied for tax exemption for their cars.
“Anyway, I am willing to accept criticism from any party,” he said.
The original price for a Mercedes-Benz S300L is RM657,218 but Lim obtained his new official car for RM298,263.75 after tax exemption and a special discount of RM100,000.
The purchase of the new car had been criticised by Barisan Nasional politicians and even DAP’s Pakatan Rakyat partners.
No comments:
Post a Comment