Federal ministers now use Toyota Vellfire as official cars, Najib says don't blame him
Since April this year, federal ministers have switched to using Toyota Vellfire as their official vehicles, with a monthly cost of RM5,759.35, revealed Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
The government has paid a total of RM1.42 million to the concessionaire as of September 2021, he added.
“The government started the process of replacing the official vehicles for federal ministers from the Proton Perdana 2.4L model to the Toyota Vellfire 2.5L model starting April 2021.
“The government pays a monthly lease of RM5,759.35 for the Toyota Vellfire. The cost of the monthly lease consists of RM4,851.61 for the monthly rental costs and RM907.74 for the maintenance costs,” Zafrul said in a written parliamentary reply dated Nov 2 to Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin who had asked for the costs of leasing the Toyota Vellfire as the federal ministers' official car.
Previously, in December 2019, the Pakatan Harapan administration had considered switching the official vehicles for federal ministers from Proton Perdana to Toyota Vellfire.
They later decided against it after the company appointed to supply vehicles for the official use of ministers and senior government officials confirmed that there was sufficient supply of the Perdana.
At the time, former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak had taken a jab at Harapan for changing their minds after public backlash.
“Before being criticised, there was no more stock of Proton Perdana because it is no longer in the market. That is why Harapan had to choose Toyota Vellfire. Eh… isn’t there a Proton X70?
“After being criticised, the Harapan government is maintaining the Proton Perdana as the official car even though it is no longer in the market,” he had said on social media.
“There is no need to twist things. It is a simple issue. Use the national flying car if Proton Perdana is no longer being produced. Support the national flying car,” Najib added sarcastically.
The ‘flying car’ project refers to an initiative introduced by then entrepreneur development minister Redzuan Yusof which had received public ridicule at the time.
After the revelation that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government had made the switch to the Toyota Vellfire cars, Najib once again took to social media after being called out by a netizen.
The netizen pointed out that Najib had criticised Harapan previously for wanting to change the ministers’ official cars to the Toyota Vellfire.
The person then sarcastically asked if the former prime minister would like to complain about this issue as well.
In response, Najib said today that none of the decisions related to changing the official vehicles to Toyota Vellfire had anything to do with him.
“Why blame me? The one who suggested Vellfire for ministers in January 2020 was the seventh prime minister’s administration (Harapan).
“The one who finally changed to Vellfire in April 2021 during the emergency and when there was no Parliament was the eighth prime minister’s administration (PN).
“So, if you want to ask, ask your ‘atok’ (grandfather) and your ‘abah’ (father),” the Pekan MP said.
Towards the beginning of Muhyiddin Yassin’s tenure as the eighth prime minister, netizens had given him the nickname of ‘Abah’ as he cultivated a father figure persona in public.
‘Atok’ is most likely a reference to 96-year-old Dr Mahathir Mohamad who had served as the seventh prime minister in the Harapan administration.
Najib had also pointed out that back in April, Muhyiddin had reportedly said the government did not have much money left after allocating RM600 billion for Budget 2021 and several stimulus packages.
Actually, Vellfire can be very productive for busy Top officials or business executives who travel with a coterie of colleagues, aides or counterparts.
ReplyDeleteFace to face discussion can continue on the road, virtually a small travelling meeting room.
But somehow, I don't think Malaysian ministers are that hardworking.
But for PAS, Hellfire not good enough. Must be Mercedes.
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It’s official: 14 Mercedes Benzs in Kelantan are for state govt use
Thursday, 16 Jan 2020
BY SOO WERN JUN
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 — The Kelantan deputy Mentri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah has confirmed that purchase of Mercedez Benz was not only for official use of the Mentri Besar, but also used by the other state leaders, Malaysiakini reported today.
Mohd Amar revealed that a total of 14 the Mercedes Benz models were bought for state executive council members and state secretary.
He added the purchases started from 2018 up until last year with the last car bought for himself and the Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob.
“Yes, all the excos, the Mentri Besar and myself are now using Mercedes Benz cars as official vehicles, but their engine capacity are different.
“I have been using it since the end of December, while the Mentri Besar started on January 1 (this year).
“We are buying new cars as most cars have been used for over 10 years and with some excos vacating their offices after general election, and did not buy new official vehicles they used,” he told reporters when met at the Panchor assemblyman’s office in Kota Bharu today.
Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that a luxury Mercedes Benz S 450 L AMG line was said to be Kelantan Mentri Besar Ahmad Yakob’s new official vehicle. This sparked a heated discussion on social media.
The vehicle with the DV 1 license plate was confirmed to be purchased by the Kelantan state government to replace the Mentri Besar’s official vehicle valued at over RM600,000.
According to a statement from the Kelantan Mentri Besar’s office yesterday, the state government has decided to gradually replace the official vehicles for the use of the Mentri Besar and state excos after conducting inspection on old vehicles used for the past 10 to 12 years.
Meanwhile, Mohd Amar explained that the purchase of the Mercedes Benz was made based on the importance of safety and based on experience of the maintenance of the Mercedes Benz was more economical than the Proton Perdana which is an old car.
However, he was unaware of the price of a Mercedes Benz since purchases were done by the finance department.
“The prices don’t matter because the state government gets a 50 per cent discount because they are not taxed.
“I don’t know the exact price but there are discounts.
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Jibby oso like Hellfires...ha ha ha...arriving at MACC to be questioned about the missing RM42 million SRC money. Can we ask Jibby who paid for his Hellfire?
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/Xr2b6u4n_m8
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Najib arrives at MACC for 2nd round of questioning
By NST Team - May 24, 2018
PUTRAJAYA: Embattled former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak arrived today for a second round of questioning by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) over the dubious transfer of RM42 million in his personal bank account.
Najib and his legal counsel pulled up into the MACC headquarters lobby here in a white Toyota Vellfire at 9.45am.
Dressed in a black coat, Najib was swarmed by a group photographers and videographers before being ushered to the investigation rooms with his lawyers.
In tow were two vehicles occupied by his legal team, among others.
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What a wonderful bunch of Kerajaan Allah!
ReplyDeleteTi these malay/muslim elites, i hope your Allah understands your need for a most comfortable and luxurious ride to "serve" your constituents.
Ptui!!!
he just loves drawing attention to himself and like a good little boy kt obliged, well done kt, was it heavy? the nuts I mean
ReplyDeletenobody highlighted and if they did it's still not too late for him to defend himself, craving sympathy for his damaged image or just simply full of himself
I will duly inform Malaysiakini of your displeasure with its article on Najib
Deletethank you very much please do, but it still does not absolve you from being obsequious
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