Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was forced to cling on to the passenger door when travelling in a Proton Perdana rented from the Public Works Department (PWD).

Lim said he had to do so throughout the 50-minute ride from the Subang airport to Istana Negara to attend the Conference of Rulers because the door would not close shut.

"I was clinging on for dear life. I was holding on to the door and was afraid of being flung out," he told Malaysiakini.

The matter came to light after Lim posted a photograph of the vehicle on Twitter. The left rear passenger door was secured with duct tape.

Apart from safety concerns, the chief minister said it was rather embarrassing to enter the palace in a defective vehicle.

He revealed that the vehicle was rented from PWD at a rate of RM200 a day. PWD has since arranged for a replacement.

"I could have rented a private car but wanted to support the federal government," he quipped.

He urged PWD to carry out an audit on all their rental vehicles because faulty vehicles would compromise the safety of their clients.

On why couldn't he sit in front as it would be safer to do so, Lim said that someone had to hold the rear door as there was a risk that it would swing open.

"It was 9am and we had to rush to the palace. Someone had to hold on to the door or it might hit other motorists," he said.