Commentary by Mustafa K. Anuar

A NUMBER of Malaysia’s ruling politicians have a peculiar way of showing the world that they have arrived.

The latest being Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu, who has had his official car upgraded recently from a Toyota Camry to a white-coloured 2.5 litre Lexus ES sedan.

To be sure, this is the second time he’s getting a spanking luxury car, costing RM200,000, while occupying the number one seat in Perak’s current Perikatan Nasional government.

In March last year, when the state was under Pakatan Harapan, Faizal (who was then also a menteri besar) and his executive councillors and state officials accorded themselves 16 Toyota Camrys.

In justifying his new purchase, Faizal insisted that the Lexus was bought at a discount, apparently missing the point that the vehicle was obtained using the rakyat’s money.

The tag price of RM200,000 could have been put to better use at a time when the economy is sluggish, and especially when the slightly more than one-year-old Camry is presumably still roadworthy.

Such an expensive purchase suggests priorities that have gone awry. Wouldn’t hard cash of RM200,000 go a long way towards, for instance, in relieving to some degree, the financial burden of the needy?  

Ruling politicians in the poorer state of Kelantan seem to have similar penchant. In January this year, Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob and his executive councillors each got themselves Mercedes-Benz reportedly to the tune of RM3.5 million.

They argued that it was time for the old cars to be replaced with new ones, which is supposedly within their right to do so, and that the Mercedes have better security features compared to other marques.

Former menteri besar, the late Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who led an austere lifestyle, would be dismayed if such things were to happen while he was still alive.

To be clear, this is the state where there still exist pockets of poverty and piped water is still muddy in certain areas, among others.

Former deputy rural development minister R. Sivarasa said in July last year, seven out of the 28 poorest districts in the country are in Kelantan – Gua Musang, Jeli, Kuala Krai, Pasir Mas, Pasir Putih, Tanah Merah and Tumpat.

Surely, there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to buying cars for state leaders, especially in a social context where poverty and other socio-economic problems require remedial measures.

Purchasing a moderately priced car, or even a cheaper model, does not indignify the public office of these politicians. Buying expensive cars, particularly in the midst of people’s socio-economic hardship, does.

The buying bug has bitten other politicians as well. It was said that leaders of Pakatan Harapan did mull over purchasing luxury cars, such as the expensive Toyota Vellfire, after taking power in Putrajaya.

They finally settled for Proton Perdana, apparently after some public backlash.

We do not expect our ruling politicians to follow closely the footsteps of Uruguay president Jose Mujica, who drives a weather-beaten 1987 Volkswagen Beetle and whose lifestyle differs markedly from that of most other world leaders.

Apart from shunning the luxurious state house, Mujica donates about 90% of his salary, about US$12,000 (RM51,000), to charity – hence, the label of the poorest president in the world pinned on him.

While Malaysians don’t anticipate such altruism among most of our politicians, they do hope that the politicians’ lifestyles are not so far removed from the rest of society to the point that they become unable or refuse to empathise with the ordinary rakyat.

At the same time, Malaysians also expect that government leaders spend taxpayers’ money prudently, especially when there’s an economic downturn.

The principles of justice, compassion, transparency and accountability should drive our political leadership for the common good of the people. – June 26, 2020.