The purchase of a Lexus ES has revealed the Perak MB’s “hypocrisy and selfishness”.
Perak Pakatan Harapan (PH) Youth leaders today condemned Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu for his decision to upgrade his official car from a Toyota Camry to a Lexus ES sedan when Malaysians are in financial straits brought on by the Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown.
Khairol Najib Hashim, Chaw Kam Foon and Mohamad Hairul Amir Sabri said Ahmad Faizal’s decision was purely self-serving, pointing out that it was the second time he had changed his official car in as many years.
“Ahmad Faizal has no sympathy for the thousands of people who have lost the income and job in the state.
“His hypocrisy has been clear lately when he often portrays himself as a ‘cool’ leader, but despite his unpretentious image he often makes selfish decisions and actions,” the three Youth chiefs of the state chapter of Amanah, DAP and PKR respectively said in a joint statement.
They said the reason given by Ahmad Faizal — that the car belongs to the state and that he had received a good discount on the price — is unacceptable because the Lexus ES is still priced higher compared to the Toyota Camry.
“We criticise his decision to spend hundreds of thousands of state government money solely to fulfil his desire to use luxury vehicles,” they said.
Previously, Faizal had reportedly said the state government bought him a new car because one of the 16 Toyota Camry cars in the state government’s fleet was sold to former state legal advisor Rohana Abd Malek, who retired last December.
“She asked to buy it. She was our longest-serving legal advisor, so we approved it (the sale).
“She still needed to pay over RM100,000 for it, which is cheaper than getting it from outside,” he had said.
However, Perak Harapan Youth questioned whether the car sold to the retired officer was the unit allocated to her or the one used by Faizal.
“If the vehicle was the one used by the officer, then the new replacement vehicle should be equal and around the same price range as the original price of the (Camry) car.
“Why is Faizal the one who got a new car, which is more expensive than the Camry used by the other exco members and executive officers?” they asked.
This seems as if the menteri besar had exploited the opportunity to buy himself a more expensive car to replace the Camry, they added.
Faizal had also courted flak for replacing the state government’s fleet of Proton Perdana with 16 maroon Toyota Camry cars last year.
According to Faizal, his new Lexus ES sedan cost the state government around RM200,000.
The 2.5-litre car is made in Japan and its retail price in the open market begins at RM300,000 for the basic model.
Faizal was seen yesterday in his new white Lexus ES while visiting SMK Methodist (P) and SMJK Sam Tet on the first day of schools reopening since March 18.