Guan Eng: Ministers to ride in Proton Perdana, not Vellfire

Ministers will continue to use Proton Perdana cars as official vehicles instead of the Toyota Vellfire, says Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Lim said that the decision came after a company appointed to supply vehicles for the official use of ministers and senior government officials confirmed that there's sufficient supply of the Perdana for use.

"We received information, or confirmation, that there is enough Perdana (cars for use). So there's no problem... please don't make a fuss of something that is not true," he said in a media conference at Putrajaya.

Lim explained that previously the company did not supply the Perdana model, hence the government had come out with an option although it wanted to continue using the Perdana.

"Actually, (the Toyota Vellfire) was an option. When the contract was awarded, we wanted to retain the Perdana but the company did not supply it, so that was the problem.

"That's why we gave an option," he said.

He added that the contract awarded to the company was given by the tender committee in which he was not involved.

Lim's explanation came after the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail last month said that the government was in the midst of appointing a company to supply official vehicles and the deal was that 32 units of the Toyota Vellfire would be supplied for ministers.

Other than that, it was also reported that 3,000 units of the Honda Accord would be supplied to senior government officials.

For context, a 2.4L Proton Perdana should cost around RM126,000 while a 2.5L Vellfire will cost around RM360,000. Fleet buyers tend to get a discount. - Mkini