Vellfire was only one of the options if there weren’t enough stock of Proton Perdana.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has confirmed that the government will not be switching to another brand as widely speculated in public following viral images of a fleet of Toyota Vellfire for ministers and Honda Accords for senior government officials to replace the ageing Proton Perdana and Toyota Camry currently in service.
Lim said, initially, the company chosen to supply the cars had suggested the Toyota Vellfire as one of the options for the official vehicle.
“We wanted to maintain the Proton Perdana, but the supplier initially said they did not have enough for all the ministers and their deputies,” he told a press conference after delivering his first monthly address to finance ministry staff for the year.
“We have just got confirmation that there are enough Proton Perdana cars, so we will be using them…there is no problem.”
He said the Cabinet committee had awarded the contract and would be announcing the name of the supplier soon.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had said the government would appoint a new company to supply the vehicles, following the end of a 25-year government concession with Spanco Sdn Bhd (Spanco) last year.