This clarification comes following criticisms over the government’s decision to switch from the Proton Perdana 2.4L Premium to the Toyota Vellfire 2.5L as the official car.

Recently, Federal Territories PKR Youth chief P Prabakaran had called the decision “a waste of the people’s money”.

In a statement, the finance ministry said some of the ministers’ official cars had reached six years of age although the replacement of these vehicles was scheduled every four years.

“The decision to switch the ministry’s official cars was made based on the monthly cost of the Toyota Vellfire 2.5, which is lower than the monthly cost of the Proton Perdana 2.4 Premium,” the ministry added.

The ministry noted that the monthly payment for the Proton Perdana 2.4 Premium was RM4,854.41 a month compared to the RM4,851.61 cost for a Toyota Vellfire 2.5.