(Apr 8): Six seemingly brand new BMW 7 Series cars, each with the national crest affixed to its registration plate, were spotted outside a local BMW dealership, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli said today, adding that this raised the question whether Putrajaya had just purchased the luxury vehicles.

He said the alleged purchases were inappropriate as it came at a time when the country was tightening its belt over the recently enforced goods and services tax (GST).

“This week, the International Trade and Industry Ministry said Proton cars are on par with BMW cars. Yet today a youth contacted me telling me he had seen six BMW cars with the national emblem at the BMW dealership in Bandar Puteri, Puchong,” he told a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

“Another friend of mine went to the dealership himself and took pictures of the cars, confirming the youth’s report.”

Rafizi said the price of each car was at least RM500,000, and that the total cost of the six vehicles could go up to RM4 million.

“If it is true that the federal government purchased these luxury cars, they must answer two questions. If Proton is on par with BMW, what is the need to buy the BMW car, which costs more than half a million ringgit each?

“Why is the government buying these luxury cars at a time when Malaysians are angry with the GST, which is burdening them?”

Rafizi said that it may sound like a “small and petty issue”, but such anecdotes riled up Malaysians who were already feeling the pinch from the GST.

PKR’s Datuk Johari Abdul, who was also at the press conference, said Putrajaya must respond immediately, as the national emblems attached to the cars could only mean that it belonged to the government, or that syndicates were abusing the crest.

He said it was unlikely that the cars belonged to any member of the royal family, as they did not usually use the national crest on their vehicles.

Rafizi already shared the photographs of the cars on his Facebook page, which immediately drew thousands of “likes” and comments from irate social media users.

Facebook user Mohammad Arif Zuhaili wrote sarcastically: “I wonder why they didn’t buy a Ferarri? The GST has been enforced for nearly a week now, I think… surely they have enough money to buy a Ferarri now.”

“Drive those cars carefully… I have a 6% share in it,” wrote Facebook user Robertson Lionel.

“The ministers need comfortable cars, only then they can think carefully…they do all of this for their beloved rakyat,” wrote Sheena NSM. – The Malaysian Insider