Liow: Car wasn't a gift, we paid for it

Newly appointed MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai has given more details of his wife Lee Su Loo's Toyota Alphard car and further rebutted allegations that it was a gift from a construction company.

He said that he had traded in his Toyota Harrier four-wheel drive for a Toyota Alphard, which was actually a secondhand reconditioned car.

"My wife ( left ) bought the seven seat car through a friend, via trade-in," he was quoted as saying in the Chinese media today.

Liow revealed that their Alphard cost only RM380,000 not close to RM600,000 as alleged in the poison pen letter being circulated in the Internet.

He added, in the process, he has traded in his old vehicle for RM130,000.

The couple then took a RM250,000 bank loan for the car.

"Even if someone was willing to give us a car, my wife wouldn't have accepted it. The reason my wife wanted to change the car is that our kids have grown up, and we need a bigger seven seat car."

Act that dragged the family in

Liow was angry with the author of the poison pen letter, as it was " a despicable act that tarnished his wife's name".

"I am the one who is involved in politics, but yet my wife and family are being dragged in, and I feel sorry."

"I feel sad, as it hurts too much. And I am puzzled...why do they want to stage such a despicable act against me and try to assassinate my character?"

He urged the police and MACC to conduct a swift investigation and clear his and his wife's name.

The Chinese newspapers also quoted sources close to Liow ( right ) as saying that the health minister is still paying the loan every month.

"The allegation has caused serious harm to Liow and his family. He can produce documents to prove that they bought the car through a trade-in," said the source.

Liow also denied having any connection with Axis Construction, which allegedly gave his wife the Toyota Alphard.