Penang CM 'takes responsibility' over Mercedes criticism, says it's a lesson

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he "took responsibility" over criticism against the state government for purchasing RM450,000 Mercedes Benz for him amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I take note of the views and would like to state that the purchase went through the necessary administrative process.

"If there are any quarters who are slighted, feel that it is untimely or should have been delayed - I shoulder the final responsibility and promise to be more careful in our consideration," he told journalists in Georgetown today.

Chow stressed that the purchase won't impact the state's efforts to combat Covid-19.

"Even before this was an issue, I had already instructed the exco and state financial officer to prepare a budget for a new aid package if a new movement control order (MCO) is announced," he said.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is expected to announce a stricter MCO tomorrow but it is unclear if it will proceed after he was exposed to a cabinet member who was infected with Covid-19. 

Chow said the incident will serve as a lesson.

"We hope that this will be a lesson that even if there is a need, considering the people are worried (about the pandemic), the timing is not appropriate," he said.

The office of the Penang state secretary on Jan 7 announced that it had taken delivery of an RM458,122.78 Mercedes Benz S560e to replace the Mercedes S300L bought in 2013.

It said the purchase for Chow's official use was approved by the state exco meeting on Nov 29, 2019.

The announcement had prompted criticism against Chow, including from his own allies. 

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