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GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow today apologized to the people of the state after admitting that the purchase of his new official Mercedes S560e was not appropriate at a time when the country was facing the Covid-19 pandemic in course.
Chow, who is also an assembler for Padang Kota, said he took full responsibility for the purchase of the 2019 model car worth RM 458,000.
He said he would be more careful when making decisions that involve shopping, especially when people are facing tough times like now.
“The prime minister’s car was purchased in accordance with the proper administrative process and I take note of the views of all parties on the matter.
“I also admit that it is a lesson for me and for the state government, as the purchase has offended people and caused them concern.
“However, as a senior minister, if someone is offended and feels that it is not timely, even if it is necessary, it can be postponed due to the pandemic.
“I have the ultimate responsibility in this matter,” he told reporters after attending a One Hope Charity donation event at the Padang Kota Service Center here today.
On Thursday, the Penang secretary of state’s office said the prime minister received a new official car, a Mercedes S560e, to replace the previous Mercedes S300L purchased in 2013.
The purchase of the new official car was criticized by many parties, including Gerakan, who asked the state government not to spend extravagantly, especially on a new official car for the prime minister.
Responding to media inquiries about concerns from some quarters that the state government had used public funds to buy the car, Chow said this was not true and that the Penang government was ready with funds in case the order motion control (MCO) will be implemented again.
“It is implausible (to use people’s money to buy a new official car). Before this problem broke out, he had ordered excos and state financial officials to be ready to provide aid packages if the government strengthened the MCO, ”he said.
Meanwhile, Chow said the Penang state government was ready to consider using a school as a low-risk quarantine center if the number of Covid-19 patients in the state increased.
“But everything will depend on the approval of the Penang State Department of Health. Maybe hotels can also be used, but it will be quite expensive, ”he said.
Earlier at the event, One Hope Charity advisor R Arunasalam presented Chow with 4,200 food baskets worth RM 300 each to donate to families in need.
Chow said that the aid, which involves an allocation of RM1.26 million, was given to 40 constituencies of the state assembly in Penang and thanked the group, which had been very active and supportive.
