Malaysia to use cheaper all-EV fleet instead of Mercedes-Benz official cars for ASEAN leaders: Anwar

Malaysia to use cheaper all-EV fleet instead of Mercedes-Benz official cars for ASEAN leaders: Anwar

Electric vehicles will serve as the official vehicles for visiting Asean leaders attending state events when Malaysia chairs Asean next year, prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said. As such, the Malaysian government will strive to secure “as many EVs as possible”, reported The Star.

“[It is] interesting that the Cabinet decided recently, everywhere we go, head of governments will get huge [Mercedes-Benz cars]. What happens now, we think if we are serious about sustainability and energy transition, let us showcase it in Malaysia. All cars to be provided for heads of government, ministers, officials will be only EVs,” the prime minister said.

The decision to use electric vehicles despite their potentially smaller size was due to their cost-effectiveness compared to other vehicles. “We will inform all Asean leaders that we want to provide larger cars, but this is the biggest EV available,” Anwar added, according to Bernama.

Malaysia to use cheaper all-EV fleet instead of Mercedes-Benz official cars for ASEAN leaders: Anwar

In terms of battery-electric vehicles for government official use, the Malaysian prime minister said during the tabling of Budget 2024 in October 2023 that the Malaysian federal government will replace its official cars with electric vehicles, and the minister of natural resources and environmental sustainability Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad reiterated the point in February, saying that the transition to EVs will begin this year.

There is yet to be an official indication of the government’s EV of choice, though the attendance of the prime minister, along with four other ministers at the Malaysian launch of the Maxus MIFA 9 electric MPV suggested a particular interest in the model.

Priced from RM270k at launch, the Maxus MIFA 9 undercuts the Toyota Vellfire – a perennial favourite of ministers – by a significant margin, with the latest iteration of the Japanese luxury MPV priced at RM438k.

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Mick Chan

Open roads and closed circuits hold great allure for Mick Chan. Driving heaven to him is exercising a playful chassis on twisty paths; prizes ergonomics and involvement over gadgetry. Spent three years at a motoring newspaper and short stint with a magazine prior to joining this website.

 

Comments

  • alibaba on Oct 29, 2024 at 12:50 pm

    yeah, asking ppl to help out other country clear stock, wise move

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 9
    • Angry Voters on Oct 30, 2024 at 8:55 am

      There are NO CHEAP EVs unless you ride an Ebike, stupid PM!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 14
  • Which EV car? From where?
    Make sure the eSIM is removed, to prevent others from listening to the leaders conversation.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 6
  • Squid on Oct 29, 2024 at 2:44 pm

    Someone pls tell him Merc & BMW also have EVs

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 13
    • hazri on Oct 29, 2024 at 4:05 pm

      the point is to cut cost. merc/bmw ev and ice price not so far, so whats the point btw.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 3
    • JasonT on Oct 29, 2024 at 5:03 pm

      Merc & BMW overpriced. Merc still have Service A & B, probably C,D,E,…… to dig more money from owners. Just like Nokia, if they still insist on pricing high and giving low tech, Bye bye.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
    • Enoch "Nucky" Thompson on Oct 30, 2024 at 8:05 am

      Typical Malaysian who doesn’t read but perceive.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • hazri on Oct 29, 2024 at 4:03 pm

    proton emas la tu

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
  • neta ftw on Oct 29, 2024 at 4:06 pm

    Imagine head of states ferried around in the Neta V

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 3
  • watmau on Oct 29, 2024 at 5:07 pm

    mr pmx, you can just purchase 2nd hand cars instead of brand new ones. dont waste our money anymore ! the debt is already 1.3 TRILLION RINGGIT, and thats a fact and not a politicized statement. by your blocs logic we wouldve gone bankrupt by now

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 4
  • Sohai on Oct 29, 2024 at 6:13 pm

    The price of Vellfire being more expensive than Maxus is irrelevant here, since one is with duty and the other without. Gomen purchases can choose not to have that duty applied.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 2
  • Ariffin Salim on Oct 30, 2024 at 4:50 am

    Kita kan BRICS so kena support negara BRICS macam china lah…buat apa nak support negara German yang support negara yahudi yang membunuh kanak2 dan pompuan Palestine. Kereta china pon bagus2 jugak.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 5
  • Laugh on Oct 30, 2024 at 8:38 am

    Why is all the other cars left out.
    All ministers, gov vehicles and especially the daily patrolling vehicles should be EV.
    Burning fuel nonstop even seen them leaving the vehicle running when they are just at the side smoking and chit chating away.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • ROTI CANAI on Oct 30, 2024 at 8:41 am

    tell all yourministers no more alphards ok?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 0
  • QUOTE <<<<>>>>>>>>>>

    BMW i7, Mercedes EQS is small and cheap? Maybe you can provide RR Spectra. what are you saying?
    EV is not cheap, it is cheaper in malaysia purely because no tax on them.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • kereta lembu lagi bagus. no need charging or fuel. just grass n water only. can produce methane gas also. bio green vehicle.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • Aaron Song on Oct 30, 2024 at 11:12 pm

    You have to increase ev charging point in order for drivers to switch h to Ev cars. RnR n Petrol kiosk should provide Fast n reliable charging. This will definitely buy over drivers to change over to EV.
    No point for the top to keep echoing for EV when the infrastructure of charging is lacking both in town n across the country.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • I think the government to invite all EV maker to sponsor. This is a platform for EV maker to promote thier latest and greatest product in ASEAN.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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