Terengganu officials switch car brand
KUALA TERENGGANU: State exco members and senior officers started using their new Mercedes-Benz E200 Kompressor cars today.
The state bought 14 of the luxury cars for RM3.43mil to replace the Proton Perdana V6 Executive cars that had been purchased in 2004.
The new cars are for the exco members, the state assembly speaker, the state secretary, the state legal adviser and the state finance officer.
The new cars with tinted windows carry the state emblem with the wording “Exco Kerajaan Negeri” embossed on the number plate.
State Secretary Datuk Mokthar Nong said the decision to use Mercedes-Benz cars was made several months ago.
The state took delivery of the cars earlier this month.
He said the German cars were bought for the safety of the state officials who had to travel extensively and to reduce the cost of maintenance.
“After much evaluation, the state felt the Mercedes-Benz cars are more reliable for long term use. It was also time to replace the Proton Perdanas,” he added.
(Source: The Star Online)
Mercedes E200 Kompressor
1. Proton Perdana not safe and maintenance cost higher than Mercedes!!!!! 
2. It was also time to replace the Proton Perdanas – bought in 2004. 
3. It seems like the state new exco members’ life are more precious than the previous members and probably their safely also more important than Pak Lah himself. Pak Lah is driven around in his No. 13 Proton Perdana.
4. Cakap tak serupa bikin.
Opt for locally-made products, says Abdullah
PUTRAJAYA: The people must have confidence in using locally-made products to renew interest in research and development of local technologies, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday.
“If we do not buy local products, there will be no interest to develop research and the technology used will be wasted,” the prime minister said
(Source: NST)
5. Compare BN-led state and Pakatan Rakyat-led state.
“In comparison, during the first weeks of new governance, the present Penang state government has decided to cancel the orders of new official cars for exco members placed by the previous administration”
(Source: Screenshot)
From the article above:
“State Secretary Datuk Mokthar Nong said the decision to use Mercedes-Benz cars was made several months ago.”
Several months ago? Since March 8 only a few months ago, this is likely the most important decision made when the new state exco was appointed. 
Then in today’s paper, Terengganu’s MB defended the purchase of the 14 new Mercedes E200 Kompressor – a whooping RM3.43million:
MB on why Terengganu bought Mercedes cars
KUALA TERENGGANU: The state government has defended the purchase of 14 Mercedes E200 Kompressor cars at RM3.43mil for the use of its state executive councillors and senior officials.
Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said the state government had planned to purchase the cars for a long time now to replace its Proton Perdana V6 Executive fleet in a move to cut cost.
“Please understand that the Proton Perdanas go through continuous long-distance journeys. It’s costing us a lot of money due to high cost of maintenance.
“We are not saying that the national car is not good but in reality we are coughing up more money for maintaining the Proton Perdanas, particularly the gear boxes,” he said.
Ahmad cited the example of the Proton Perdana of state Commerce, Industry and Environment committee chairman Toh Chin Yaw, which has twice undergone expensive repairs costing RM50,000 within 36 months.
“In the long run, Mercedes cars are cheaper to maintain and could also save us fuel costs.
“This is the state’s long-term plan – we are farsighted. The cars could also fetch a high market price, when sold as second-hand cars.
“We studied all angles before deciding to buy the Mercedes E200 cars,” he added.
Ahmad also denied that the oil royalty money was used to buy the cars.
“In the first place we have yet to receive the oil royalties from the Federal Government.
“The funds to procure the cars were from our own coffers and has nothing to do with the oil royalties,” he said.
(Source: The Star Online)
Long distance journey? We all aware they travel by jets or MAS business class all the time. Oh? Mercedes cars are cheaper to maintain and could save fuel costs, that’s something new.. to me.
I wonder what kind of parts can cost RM50k, we were talking about Perdana, not Porche or BMW. Probably the repair costs marked up as well?? Fishy.. Or probably Terengganu exco members are big fans of Pimp My Ride? 
ps: |1f34|-|1r3 aka Life4Hire is not happy he’s not getting his Mercedes. He’s jealous and he called them suckers. 
Read it here.
