Kompressed state execs !

Monday July 21, 2008-The Star
(parenthesis, mine)

KUALA TERENGGANU: The state government has defended the purchase of 14 Mercedes E200 Kompressor cars at RM3.43mil for the use of its state executive councillors and senior officials.

At a time like this , RM3.43 million for 14 E200 is considered a defensive "good buy"... yah ?

Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said the state government had planned to purchase the cars for a long time now to replace its Proton Perdana V6 Executive fleet in a move to cut cost.

How long ago, you say...and how is this purchase considered "cut-costs ?

“Please understand that the Proton Perdanas go through continuous long-distance journeys. It’s costing us a lot of money due to high cost of maintenance.

Yeah...right ! So the rest of us "understanding Malaysians" don't travel much ? Just love getting stuck in traffic jams and enjoy burning-up petrol ! Ever considered a cheaper option....like sacking incompetent drivers with no car maintenance knowledge !

“We are not saying that the national car is not good but in reality we are coughing up more money for maintaining the Proton Perdanas, particularly the gear boxes,” he said.

Then WHAT are you struggling to say ? Which ever way I see it, this guy is saying our Perdanas are hopeless ?....and to think we are proud to say our Malaysian made cars are world class ! Of course..... if all you can afford to drive is a Malaysian-made car ! And Perdana V6 makers....there you have it, you make lousy gear-boxes ! Any comments ?

Ahmad cited the example of the Proton Perdana of state Commerce, Industry and Environment committee chairman Toh Chin Yaw, which has twice undergone expensive repairs costing RM50,000 within 36 months.

You put a monkey who does not take care with regular checks behind the wheel and of course...you get such high repair costs....anyways pray tell me.... which part of the Perdana V6 costs RM50,000 huh ? Very curious....did this monkey pay out of his own pocket or is this another "hiked-up" bill which some apointed driver has "conjured-up" to bill the state, on the side ?

“In the long run, Mercedes cars are cheaper to maintain and could also save us fuel costs.

Bullshit !!.....given the price of each periodic maintenance check-up and the price of fuel ! Just ask any Merc driver who has to pay-out of his own pocket !

“This is the state’s long-term plan – we are farsighted. The cars could also fetch a high market price, when sold as second-hand cars.

See folks even as they have been just issued with brand new E200's....they are already talking of selling it as second hand cars !....why not just get these jokers "second-hand" cars ? Far-sighted huh ?....hmmmmm !

“We studied all angles before deciding to buy the Mercedes E200 cars,” he added.

Yikes !...there was a special committee set-up for this ?

Ahmad also denied that the oil royalty money was used to buy the cars.

If not oil royalties, he means money allocated for the poor (read you and me)...what's the difference....it's still money from the already suffering tax-payers, moron !

“In the first place we have yet to receive the oil royalties from the Federal Government.

Ahhhh....so it IS monies set aside for the poor !....like petrol subsidies, schooling and medical aides for the hard-core poor in the state, right ?

“The funds to procure the cars were from our own coffers and has nothing to do with the oil royalties,” he said.

Yeaaaah right , YOUR coffers, my arse ! Yes these coffers are only for the privileged few ! Take a cue from the Penang EXCO, .... fool ! And I drive a 7 year old Perodua Kembara EZ...sigh !!!