Budget 2024: Malaysian gov to use EVs as official cars

Budget 2024: Malaysian gov to use EVs as official cars

Yes, it’s happening. Malaysian finance minister and prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim briefly mentioned in the tabling of Budget 2024 today that the federal government will start using electric vehicles (EVs) as official cars. Vellfire to Tesla – would you consider that an upgrade or downgrade?

It was not explicitly explained whether this would only apply to sitting ministers or to lower government positions as well, but it would be safe to assume it will start from the top down. Currently, Malaysian ministers are provided the use of Toyota Vellfires as official cars, which will presumably be swapped for new Teslas.

It’s also rather fortunate that there is no longer a restriction limiting the use of strictly locally-assembled or CKD models as official cars, as that would mean our PM will soon be rolling around in a brand new Mercedes-Benz EQS!

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Hafriz Shah

Preferring to drive cars rather than desks, Hafriz Shah ditched his suit and tie to join the ranks of Malaysia’s motoring hacks. A car’s technical brilliance is completely lost on him, appreciating character-making quirks more. When not writing this ego trip of a bio, he’s usually off driving about aimlessly, preferably in a car with the right combination of three foot pedals and six gears.

 

Comments

  • Kea Was on Oct 13, 2023 at 8:25 pm

    So what is going to happen to those Vellfire now especially with the lucrative deal given to the Spank company by the ex-ex-M with RM700,000,000 given free to this special company.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 31 Thumb down 0
    • Madani konon on Oct 13, 2023 at 9:50 pm

      Sold for cheap to the ministers. This is mesia remember?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 15
      • Damned if don't; also damned if do.. What the... on Oct 13, 2023 at 10:31 pm

        Once they were criticised for not coming up with a firm national EV roadmap. Now that they have done so, they still get criticised for wanting to use EVs as official vehicles.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 11
        • Seitha on Oct 16, 2023 at 9:12 am

          EV is a worldwide scam to control people…
          when the gov(any gov pushing EV) sees it necessary, they can restrict us from driving where we want to go or restrict use from driving on certain days..

          Try not paying your internet or phone bill..they can disconnect you form service right… they wil be able to do that with electric cars!!

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 5
      • Ajibkor on Oct 13, 2023 at 10:35 pm

        Lantak pi la Spanco tuee kroni barua PN,

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 3
      • Dah Menang Semua on Oct 13, 2023 at 10:45 pm

        Why is not EV from China?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
    • Sell to bawang hadi lahh..he craved for it

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 13
    • Nirvana on Oct 14, 2023 at 6:11 am

      Sell them to us. We need many luxurious van jenazah

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
    • Kassim B Khairul on Oct 15, 2023 at 11:58 pm

      PH 1.0 spent taxpayers monies to buy all new expensive Alphards for mentris.
      PH 2.0 spent taxpayers monies to buy all new expensive EV for mentris.
      PH = Pembazir Harta negara!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 16
  • Better, Vellfires are an eyesore.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 30 Thumb down 2
  • Peppa on Oct 13, 2023 at 8:51 pm

    No chinese ev please. Thank you!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 23
    • No Chinese made EV on Oct 14, 2023 at 11:54 am

      And only Tesla from US factory. Not crap, poorer quality Tesla from Cina

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 12
    • NoChina on Oct 14, 2023 at 11:57 am

      And only quality American made Tesla. Not the poor quality crap from Cina.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 11
      • Get out from the cave! on Oct 14, 2023 at 1:38 pm

        It’s so funny to read comment above. Everything from China now, even tesla, iphone made from China. Maybe you built your own EV, r u capable of it or just katak bawah tempurung? Criticise when u able to match them on par, if not just continue to improve first before talk!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 5
      • ToonM on Oct 16, 2023 at 8:34 am

        Bodo@, all new Tesla in bolehland come from Shanghai of China! Wake up, read more b4 giving yr retard comment!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
      • Lol tak sekolah on Oct 16, 2023 at 6:24 pm

        The good ones are from China, the ones with terrible quality are from US factory la aduhhh please dont skip school

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • Ah Nay Cheras on Oct 15, 2023 at 1:05 am

      Hey thumb bee can recommends where to buy bharata EV eh?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 3
  • anonymous on Oct 13, 2023 at 9:21 pm

    here’s an idea: use those bloody velfires until they actually don’t work anymore?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 44 Thumb down 2
    • Bolehland on Oct 14, 2023 at 4:07 pm

      They will said those vellfire ‘broke down, higher maintenance etc2’.

      Will copy the previous ‘alasan’. Hehehe

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • dong gor on Oct 13, 2023 at 10:09 pm

    i think it’s reasonable … it costs less to maintain, and good for environment. applicable for Y and 3 only ok and preferably white only. eye sore if go with the S or X..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 16
    • Gupler on Oct 14, 2023 at 11:08 pm

      Anyone that says electric cars are “good for the environment” has 2 brain cells

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 2
    • dong gor is a dummahh on Oct 16, 2023 at 6:42 pm

      Oh my sweet summer child forgot about the damaging cobalt and lithium mines and the fact that our electricity is produced by coal and petrol lmao.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Let’s get sufficient charging ports in the country first..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • Chaffeur on Oct 13, 2023 at 10:33 pm

    Technically, hybrid cars are considered EV as well… Using hybrids instead of BEV or full electric cars would be a safer choice both for the VIP’s safety, and ensure the convoys won’t have issue with ‘low battery, need to park and charge first’ issue. The new hybrid Toyota Alphard is a good alternative. Or any executive plug-in hybrids like BMW XM

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 5
  • Wastages...A Clear n Present Danger on Oct 13, 2023 at 11:00 pm

    So,someone gonna get durian runtoh…supply the Evs.
    THen,what happens to the existing Vellfires?..Quietly bungkus n sell thro auction? What a waste of tax Ringgit.
    This is called WASTAGES. What we get back from the IMDB bastards,will be spent on newer germen toys.
    PMX,cant we exhaust the lifespan of the Vellfires,then move to Evs ? Whats the big hurry ?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 2
    • Madani konon on Oct 14, 2023 at 6:38 am

      Takut tak sempat merasa Tesla dah kalah undi tak percaya

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 11
    • Bossku still in jail on Oct 14, 2023 at 8:06 am

      Cannot! We don’t know what Pakatan No Harapan had dangled in front of Elon for his USD investment! You think he would come to another third world country to invest when he already got Indo on his investment biz?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 11
    • Squid on Oct 16, 2023 at 9:46 am

      I think there is no mention of immediate change. Current lease contracts should carry on. Only new lease contracts will specify EVs. Meaning cars that are already handed out will continue to be used, new replacements will be EVs.

      People are so quick to assume and jump to conlusions.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Upgrade in terms of carbon footprint (though not much, considering Malaysia electricity is mostly dirty), but a downgrade in terms of cabin comfort.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • Bossku still in jail on Oct 14, 2023 at 3:29 am

    This is why Pakatan No Harapan is aiming to reduce the cost of living for rakyat! They help rakyat save garmen money by driving Tesla cars, so Petronas don’t need to pay for their Hellfire petrol bills!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 7
  • So this is where PWD’s vintage Pajero EVs goes.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0
  • Fully Imported TESLA ? on Oct 14, 2023 at 10:09 am

    Imported TESLA but get all privileges like local assembled cars

    Penny-wise Pound Foolish

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Susukotak on Oct 14, 2023 at 11:31 am

    Gov never end use malaysian product in gov policy. Changes to vellfire because proton unable to supply new product when needed.
    All this just excuse by buka mulut ….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Matti on Oct 14, 2023 at 11:45 am

    Just what we needed. A bunch of politicians and their convoy hogging up the already limited number of charging stations.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 3
  • Listening to Syed Saddiq’s pc after budget presentation. Velfire is still new, started usage by gov in 2021.
    I thought gov wants to berjimat cermat. Why the sudden early change?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 2
  • No money, do not change car, just use old car!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • Drive Asian Cars in Asia on Oct 14, 2023 at 10:08 pm

    So called environmental friendly YB ride with bunch of fuel drinkers convoy bodyguards/gangters overspeeding and drive recklessly front and back, no logic right?

    Soon will find new excuses to change back to gaskets rides, as Teslas are much less comfortable than the Japanese ride, sunny weather also heat up the cabin very quick.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • New Gov, New Car…just wow

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • James on Oct 15, 2023 at 1:44 pm

    Good good, get rid of the fugly, lalapek looking fridge-on-wheels from the road.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Only government and govt agencies can afford while EV is still beyond the reach of taxpayer.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • AKarim Hussein on Oct 17, 2023 at 9:25 am

    propose
    no new ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles for govt.
    keep existing cars until not cost effective anymore and send to rural areas without good charging infrastructure
    immediate zero APs for all ICE vehicles. Gray importers can change to survive. choice still there.
    Climate change is a crisis forget politics.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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