THE debate on the controversial purchase of 14 Mercedes E200 Kompressors by the Terengganu government shows that people are concerned about what their elected representatives are doing or not doing.

The excuses for the purchase of the 14 cars are laughable at best and downright immoral at worst, especially in these inflationary times when the people have been advised to cut down on unnecessary expenditure. The least we expect of our leaders and elected representatives is that they set a good example. I find the suggestion by Michael Ng (”Let them take a taxi — NST, July 30) to be highly pertinent.

This issue is surely only the tip of the iceberg. The purchase of the 14 Mercedes cars exposes the mercenary mentality of these elected representatives in the use of public funds and taxpayers’ money. Elected representatives must bear in mind that their positions are given to them on trust.

It is incumbent on them not to exploit this trusted position and use public funds to pander to their private needs and ego.

TAM YONG YUEE, Muar

Source: NST – July 31, 2008