KUANTAN: The Pahang government is also feeling the burden of maintaining its fleet of Proton Perdanas for its executive councillors.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said the government had to spend RM57,700, RM49,000 and RM54,000 on maintenance for three Proton Perdanas last year.

He was speaking after handing over a cheque to UiTM students who participated in drawing up a master plan for the Kuala Lipis district council.

Adnan said over the same period the state spent RM42,000 and RM20,000 on maintaining the two official Mercedes Benzes which he inherited from his predecessor, Tan Sri Khalil Yaakob.

Adnan became Pahang menteri besar in 1999.
"The cost of maintaining the Proton cars is higher compared with the Mercedes," he said.

Adnan said Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said's view should be looked at "fairly".

"In Pahang, we also face problems as we have to travel long distances.

"However, in view of the current economic situation and the perception of the people, it is better for us to continue using the Proton."

Adnan said this should be the practice as both the state and federal governments were run by the Barisan Nasional.

In Seremban, Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said all newly-appointed state executive councillors were not given new Proton Perdanas, but were using the cars that previous exco members used.

"Most of the cars are under five years and in good condition. Normally, we would allow past exco members to buy the cars they had used at a nominal price.

"However, in view of the present economic situation, we did not do that and have asked the new exco members to continue using the Perdanas," he said.

In Kota Kinabalu, Assistant Finance Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan said Sabah was still using Proton Perdana cars for all state cabinet ministers and their assistants.

"The only difference in Sabah is that each full minister is given a four-wheel drive vehicle for outstation use while assistant ministers are given the option to either use a Proton Perdana or a four-wheel drive (Toyota Fortuner)," he said, adding that most opted for the 4WD.

Tawfiq said 4WDs were a necessity in the state, especially when travelling to rural areas.

In Ipoh, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said they would continue to use their fleet of 11 Proton Perdanas.

"Our maintenance costs are reasonable," he said.

He said the gearbox in one or two cars were changed due to high mileage.

"We have no plans to replace the cars although the previous Barisan Nasional state government had allocated a budget to do so."

In Kota Baru, Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said the exco members were using both the Proton Perdanas and Mercedes Benzes.

Nik Abdul Aziz however admitted that they would prefer to use the Mercedes Benz as "they do not get damaged easily".

He agreed with Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said that the maintenance cost for the national car was higher but he was unable to state the amount spent by Kelantan on repairs and maintenance.

In Johor Baru, Johor State Secretary Datuk Abd Latiff Yusoff said the state would not replace the fleet of Proton Perdanas which were four or five years old.

He declined to reveal the maintenance cost for the cars.

In Alor Star, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak said the Pas-led state government would maintain the present fleet of Proton Perdanas although their maintenance was quite high.

He lamented that the car broke down often.

"Recently, a state exco had to continue his way back to Kedah in a taxi after his official Proton Perdana broke down in Kamunting, Perak."

In Kangar, Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Md Isa Sabu and his seven executive council members will not "abandon" their official Proton Perdana Executive V6 cars.

Md Isa said the car was comfortable. "Even though the maintenance cost of the Perdana V6 is quite high, the car is comfortable.

"It is true to say that Mercedes cars seldom break down. But when it does, it costs a lot to repair."

Meanwhile, Md Isa's press secretary Jamsari Jamaluddin said many Malaysians were too obsessed with luxury cars such as Mercedes Benzes.

"In European countries such as Germany and Sweden, the Mercedes is used as taxis."

On the maintenance of official state cars, Jamsari said they would be sent to the Public Works Department if there were major repairs needed.

In Shah Alam, the Selangor government reported that it spent more than RM288,000 to maintain the 12 Proton Perdana V6 Executive for the executive council members last year.

A spokesman for the office of the state legislative assembly said an average of RM2,000 was spent on each car, or RM24,000 a month for the whole fleet.

The cars are between two and five years old.

More recently, RM23,000 was spent to change the gear box for the official car used by State Local Government, Study and Research Committee chairman Ronnie Liu.

Liu said he was shocked when he learnt of the cost for the new gear box, which was changed about two week ago.

"I was only informed after the bill had already been paid."

Had he known the cost, Liu said he would have condemned the five-year-old car to the scrapyard.

He said the car was unreliable and was a fuel guzzler.

"Our fuel allowance is capped at RM100 a day, but on many occasions I find that I have to fork out my own money to fill the tank."

Liu said he had already made a recommendation that all exco cars be changed to the Toyota Camry.