Syed Saddiq slams Penang CM’s new Merc
The Penang chief minister’s new official car, a 2019 Mercedes-Benz S560e bought for RM458,000.
PETALING JAYA: Former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has criticised the DAP-led Penang state government over the purchase of a new Mercedes-Benz S560e for Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
The official car, which cost RM458,000, replaces a Mercedes S300L bought in 2013 for RM298,263.
Syed Saddiq said in a Facebook posting this evening that there was no need for a luxury car at a time when many people were out of jobs because of Covid-19, and others affected by the worsening floods in certain parts of the country.
“We must be fair! Before this we had criticised the Kelantan PAS leadership over their new Mercedes-Benz official vehicles and for taking a pay rise during the time of Covid-19. Now, it is just the same,” he said.
Chow was quoted as saying that “I just got the car yesterday, I don’t know the details of the purchase”. The state secretary said the purchase of the new car was approved at a state executive council meeting in November 2019.
The purchase of new cars for chief ministers and menteris besar has come under criticism in the past.
Last year, the Kelantan government was criticised for its purchase of 14 Mercedes-Benz cars for its menteri besar and state executive council members.
In 2014, then Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng defended the purchase of a Mercedes-Benz S300L saying it was better in the long run, and that it took into account the safety and security of state leaders.
PETALING JAYA: Former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has criticised the DAP-led Penang state government over the purchase of a new Mercedes-Benz S560e for Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
The official car, which cost RM458,000, replaces a Mercedes S300L bought in 2013 for RM298,263.
Syed Saddiq said in a Facebook posting this evening that there was no need for a luxury car at a time when many people were out of jobs because of Covid-19, and others affected by the worsening floods in certain parts of the country.
“We must be fair! Before this we had criticised the Kelantan PAS leadership over their new Mercedes-Benz official vehicles and for taking a pay rise during the time of Covid-19. Now, it is just the same,” he said.
Chow was quoted as saying that “I just got the car yesterday, I don’t know the details of the purchase”. The state secretary said the purchase of the new car was approved at a state executive council meeting in November 2019.
The purchase of new cars for chief ministers and menteris besar has come under criticism in the past.
Last year, the Kelantan government was criticised for its purchase of 14 Mercedes-Benz cars for its menteri besar and state executive council members.
In 2014, then Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng defended the purchase of a Mercedes-Benz S300L saying it was better in the long run, and that it took into account the safety and security of state leaders.
Syed Saddiq,
ReplyDeleteMuda tak laku with ROS, join-lah DAP and show Chow how to do it right, Guanee and Daddy will definitely bagi ruang for you to shine.
If you join PKR or Amanah you will just be another budak kecik duduk belakang, tunggu gilir.
But join DAP you will be CEC member immediately and when back in gomen sure become Menteri. Kulit-fication mah.....ha ha ha....
I think all MBs have Mercs or equivalent. Exco should be Hondana or atoyoT....ha ha ha...tapi Kelantan special.....Allah bagi.....
ReplyDelete2 x 5
ReplyDeleteHmmmm...
ReplyDelete70k annually for vacation....? If so concerned about the rakyat did you donate to the poor instead of keeping at your house...?
180 daily for food and drinks....? is enough to comfortably feed a family of 5 for a week, how many wives and children you have...?
Vellfire, minyak, drebar, bodyguard semua ada...
10k to move house....? But you said you don't have your own house...
42k for dining set....to dine with Zakar Naik...? ha ha ha, still waiting for your apology....
150k as one-off dismissal payment for 22 months work....?
Gomen pay you all in cash to keep at home....?
Hmmmm again
QUOTE
Syed Saddiq maintains innocence, explains sources of income
FMT Reporters -May 11, 2020
Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman says he cannot understand why ministers should accept bribes with the salaries and allowances they are getting.
PETALING JAYA: Former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has maintained his innocence over a probe by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) into some RM250,000 missing from his home.
The PPBM Youth chief also explained his sources of income when he was a minister, which included monthly salaries and allowances.
He said he earned RM55,000 monthly as a minister and Muar MP, and received other allowances totalling RM70,000 for annual vacations, RM180 for daily food and drinks, and RM10,000 to move house.
He also received one-off payments amounting to RM42,000 for dining sets and RM150,000 after he was dismissed as minister.
“Until now, I still do not understand why there is any need for ministers to take bribes. High pay, high allowance, and not even including the one-off payments received,” he said in a statement today.
Syed Saddiq also said he had never given any contracts to parties when he was a minister, adding that all contracts were given through the tender evaluation committee.
He said he had practised an open tender system for all contracts, and was one of the first few ministers to declare their assets.
He also asked why he would lodge a police report on the missing cash if it was really linked to bribery and corruption.
The MACC earlier today ordered Syed Saddiq to declare his assets as part of its probe into the missing money, with a source saying the anti-graft agency is investigating the case under Section 17 (a) of the MACC Act related to gratification and bribery.
Last month, Syed Sadiq and two others were questioned at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya, with the former minister asked to hand over bank documents to assist in the probe.
MACC launched the investigation following a complaint related to the loss of the cash belonging to Syed Saddiq.
He lodged a police report on March 29, saying the money had been kept in a safe box at his home.
He also said only a few people knew the combination code for the safe, which he last opened on March 13 or 14.
UNQUOTE
Very bad optics and poor judgement for Chow Kon Yeow. Right in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic and economic crisis, with so many Penang people suffering.
ReplyDeleteA high spec (2.5 litre Toyota Camry with full accessories), would have cost about RM 190 K.
I don't think it is any less safe or reliable than the Merc.
I, too , drive a high end Merc, but then, I run a group of profit-making companies, and its my own money.