CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow today defended the purchase price of 15 units of Toyota Camry bought by Penang government.
He said state financial officer Sarul Bahiyah Abu had made it clear in an issued statement that the cost per unit bought was without any tax deductions.
Hence, he said the about RM180,000 per unit was bought on a market price only with RM4,990 discount per unit given after negotiation with the seller.
“The country needs lots of money and that is why tax exemptions have been taken away.
“When we applied for tax exemption, nothing was given by the Customs Department,” he told a press conference after attending the Tanjong Women and Family Development Committee (JPWK) National Day celebration at Dewan Sri Pinang today.
Chow was commenting on a newspaper report, stating the cars’ different prices purchased by Penang and Perak governments.
Chow added that Perak might have bought its vehicles earlier when the tax exemptions were given.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Ahmad Adil Muhamad