Is Penang CM Lim Guan Eng A Hypocrite For Buying Himself A New Mercedes-Benz?

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng swapped his two-month old Toyota Camry for a new Mercedes-Benz as his official car and straightaway drove himself into a controversy.

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Some netizens commented that Lim had not walked his talk, others accepted his explanation that he had gotten the car at a much cheaper price.

The purchase of the new car had been criticised by Barisan Nasional politicians and even DAP’s Pakatan Rakyat partners.

The chief minister started using the Mercedes-Benz, which was purchased at RM298,263.75, on Monday.

The original price of the Mercedes-Benz S300L was RM657,218.

“The Mercedes-Benz S300L was exempted from tax and was given a special discount of RM100,000," said Mokhtar.

“The supplier of Mercedes-Benz has also given assurance that the state does not need to buy the Mercedes-Benz S300L and can return it to the supplier if the tax exemption was not granted."

"The car was purchased at a cost of RM271, 331.22, not much of a difference from the recent purchase. Lim's Toyota Camry has been handed over to State Legislative Assembly deputy Speaker Maktar Shapee as his official car."

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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.

“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.

Barisan’s Kota Belud Member of Parliament Datuk Rahman Dahlan accused Lim of being “hypocritical”.

“He accuses the federal government of being spendthrift but look at him now. Cakap tak serupa bikin (he doesn’t walk the talk),” said Rahman when contacted on Tuesday.

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Persatuan Kebajikan Insan Mulia president Aminah Abdullah said the purchase went against the state government's promises of being prudent in its spending.
"The state government had always boasted it was taking care of people's welfare."

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"That is now is questionable as the state government has got an expensive car.
"I challenge Lim not use the car if he really has the interests of the poor and downtrodden at heart."

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Yesterday, Lim explained why he had swapped his two-month-old Toyota Camry for a new Mercedes-Benz as his official car, following the state executive council's decision on November 20 that took into account the safety of state leaders.

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"It was a value-for-money purchase because of the tax and duty exemptions and discount.

"In the long run, the maintenance cost for a Mercedes-Benz is also better," he said at his Komtar office today.

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“Anyway, I am willing to accept criticism from any party,” he said.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng continued to defend the state’s purchase of a Mercedes-Benz for use as his official car.

The most important thing about buying the new Mercedes-Benz S300L as his official car, he said, was the value the state got.

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"As the Penang chief minister, he (Lim) is entitled to use two Mercedes-Benz cars, the Mercedes-Benz S400 and S300 models at the same time.
"However, the chief minister was only using one car and it was a Toyota Camry."

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"The latest purchase is considered worthwhile as the Mercedes-Benz S320L used by former chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon since Sep 4, 1995, had lasted a long time.

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DAP national chairman Karpal Singh said the vehicle was a thoughtful New Year gift and befitted the chief minister's dignity and status.

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“This is befitting the chief minister’s dignity and status. No one should begrudge him this privilege. He has earned it with regard to Penang, having grown by leaps and bounds under his stewardship since 2008,” said Karpal.

The statement issued by Karpal is seen as appearing on time before the slew of criticism against Lim and the Penang government flooded the cyberspace and the media.

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