The government is not bankrolling the use of a 2012 Rolls-Royce Phantom by Sarawak governor Abdul Taib Mahmud when he is in Kuala Lumpur, minister Shahidan Kassim said.

Neither did the government pay for the luxury car which costs about RM3.7 million.

“This is news to me,” replied Shahidan Kassim in a surprised tone when asked on the matter reported by whistleblower website Sarawak Report.

“During my time, this has not happened. Even before me, no such thing,” he told Malaysiakini .

Shahidan ( photo ) denied that the government owned any Rolls-Royce cars for the usage of the state governors.

“No, not that I know of,” he said.

On Monday, Sarawak Report reported that the car parked at the Kuala Lumpur branch of Yayasan Sarawak is Taib’s official vehicle.

The website suggested that the car was a “present” by Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem, Taib’s successor.

However, it said the car could be owned by the federal government, which provides official vehicles for governors, menteris besar and chief ministers whenever they are in the capital.

Taib’s love for Rolls Royce cars is well-known. In 2011, Malaysiakini photographed one of his vintage Rolls-Royce Phantom cars, which does not carry a road tax sticker nor a number plate.

Asked on the Sarawak Report article, PBB assistant secretary-general Hasbi Habibollah refused to comment.

“I don’t know anything about people’s property,” said the Limbang MP.

He declined to answer when asked if he had seen any Rolls-Royce car in Taib’s residence in Kuching. Taib is former PBB chief.