GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (pic) says that he has taken note and understands the view that the timing of buying a new official car was inappropriate due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I take note of all the views and I would like to clarify that we followed the proper administrative process before purchasing the car," he said.
“But as the Chief Minister, if there is an offended party who feels that the purchase was made at a wrong time and that the purchase could have been delayed, I will take the final responsibility," added Chow.
He said that the state government promises to be more cautious when making decisions in the future.
“This is a lesson for us and we understand that people are worried and that the timing of the purchase was not appropriate, ” he said when speaking to reporters after attending an event at his service centre on Sunday (Jan 10).
“There are worries that the money used to buy the car had affected the welfare of the people.
"However, before the issue was raised, I asked my exco members and finance director to prepare a budget for the economic stimulus package for those affected by the pandemic if the MCO is announced.
In a statement on Thursday (Jan 7), Penang state secretary Datuk Abdul Razak Jaafar confirmed that a Mercedes S560e was purchased at a cost of RM458,000 for Chow to replace his previous official car, a Mercedes S300L.
In 2014, when then chief minister Lim Guan Eng was given the Mercedes-Benz S300L as his official car, it was criticised by Barisan Nasional politicians and DAP's Pakatan Rakyat partners.
The car was obtained to replace Lim's 18-year-old official car, a Mercedes-Benz S320. - Star
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