A total of 337 members of Parliament have obtained an Approved Permit (AP) each to import luxury foreign cars between 2000 and Sept 12 this year, according to a list released today.

They are among 4,500 individuals who were issued with APs during that period, according to a written reply to Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang today. (Every MP is entitled to one AP for personal use.)

Only the names of MPs who were issued with the individual APs were listed in the reply from International Trade and Industry Minister, including those of a number of opposition parliamentarians.

Among prominent Barisan Nasional figures were ministers Syed Hamid Albar, Dr Fong Chan Onn, Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz (right), deputy ministers Mah Siew Keong, Hon Choon Kim, Fu Ah Kiow, Donald Lim, Robert Lau, Zainudin Maidin, Shafie Apdal, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Ramli Ngah Talib and his deputy Lim Si Cheng.

Those on the opposition benches include former and current MPs like Mohamad Sabu, Husam Musa, Nasharuddin Mat Isa, Kamaruddin Jaafar, Salahuddin Ayub (all PAS), Chong Eng, Fong Po Kuan, Teresa Kok, Fong Kui Lun (all DAP) and Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (left) of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

According to Rafidah's reply, the biggest number of individual APs was issued to Malaysians who were returning home after studying or working abroad, comprising 2,721 over the five-year period.

Apart from them and the MPs, others were officials in diplomatic missions (981), professionals who had been encouraged to return to Malaysia under a government scheme (196), trade officials (98), sultans and state governors (60) and participants of the 'Malaysia my second home' programme (57).

Rafidah reiterated that there were no irregularities in the issuance of APs as applications were approved based on "objective and transparent criteria and conditions".

The details were the latest in the series, following the government's release of lists of those who hold open and franchise APs at the height of a dispute between the minister and former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

MPs without APs

Based on several interviews today at Parliament house, it is clear that not all the MPs have exercised their entitlement.

When contacted, Lim said: "I have said before I do not have any AP and the list confirms this. As to the reason why I did not apply for one, we can talk about it another time and at another place."

Lim had earlier been the subject of speculation after he was asked by leaders of two small opposition parties to confirm whether or not DAP MPs had 'sold' their APs.

Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Itam), who drives a SsangYong Rexton now, said he did not apply for an AP because he did not need it.

"Nowadays cars are expensive, I don't have spare money to by a brand new one and my current car is still usable," he said.

Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Bandar Kuching) said: "I have a seven-year-old Nissan Sentra. When I need to buy a new imported car, then I'll consider using my entitlement to the AP."