PETALING JAYA: A former aide to Muhyiddin Yassin said the former prime minister never used government-owned cars during his tenure in office.
Marzuki Mohamad said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had erred in claiming that Muhyiddin’s administration placed an order for a new Mercedes S600 limousine.
“He (Muhyiddin) has always been using his own private vehicle, be it in the government or in the opposition.
“He was previously given two options – a Mercedes S600 or a Lexus MPV – to choose when he became the prime minister. However, both cars were too expensive and he requested the Prime Minister’s Department to review the matter,” he said, adding that the final approval would come from the finance ministry.
He said Muhyiddin’s request, in a written note, was relayed to the officers and the matter ended there.
“Until he resigned on Aug 16, 2021, the government never purchased the Mercedes,” he added.
Last month, Anwar said an order for a new Mercedes S600 by the Prime Minister’s Department has been cancelled. He said the order was made by a previous prime minister, but did not specify whom he meant.
Anwar said the cancellation was made following a detailed review of whether the purchase could be cancelled.
He also said no new official car would be bought for his use, and no renovations would be carried out at his office, as part of a new culture against wastage of public funds that must be practised by all.
It was reported that the purchase of the Mercedes was mooted by Muhyiddin’s government and then approved by Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s administration.
The S600 sits on top of the Mercedes-Maybach line of luxury saloons. Retail prices begin at about RM1.35 million.
