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MAY 16, 2004 SUN News Story Index Archived Issues Party okays Sonia as Indian PM 'I want to bring my Batam bride Why this big shot drives a small car home' Battling a bad It's trusty, economical and easy to park, says Minister of State Chan rep Soo Sen Home front Massage wars: By Tracy Quek Rubbing customers the wrong way? WHEN Minister of State Chan Soo Sen drives up in his 1,000cc Nissan 4 Circle Line March, he sometimes gets shooed away when he tries to park at the lot sites resume reserved for him as guest of honour. digging Outsourcing is a Why? Because no one expects the guest of hush-hush word here honour to turn up in a modest mint-green car, much less a model no longer in Strays can roam free in pet production. haven At a time when civil servants' use of luxury Police raid on official cars is being questioned, Mr Chan is pub spooks patrons one official happy to zip around in his own. A high-tech ride The issue was highlighted last week when in Shanghai for DPM The Straits Times reported that the Cut Waste Panel had received queries over the President gets PHOTO: SEAN TAN new aide-de- use of official cars. camp Why such luxury makes? Why do some civil servants use them when not on BG Yeo gets official business? Why can't they drive their own cars instead? trade magazine award These queries were put to the Defence Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry and Oil price hike: It Police Force, which explained their policies on official cars. Mindef, for could get worse example, said the cheapest bid it received was for the Audi. A Lamborghini for Italian cops The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) told The Sunday Times that all ministers World front and political appointees use their personal cars to get around. Editor marched out of the door Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister drives a Honda Reforms at risk Accord; DPM , a Mercedes; Community Development and Sports if coalition tilts Minister , a Nissan Cefiro. left Sonia - India's Acting Education Minister told The Sunday Times popular outsider that he drives a seven-year-old Toyota Estima that is 'good for the family'. Italian relatives proud but Like a handful of top civil servants, the ministers get a car allowance to buy apprehensive or maintain their vehicles. about her victory The PMO keeps four official cars, all white Mercedes, ready for state Love dilutes blue occasions and visiting foreign dignitaries, said a spokesman. blood A car sends a message, said Mr Chan, when asked if he thought plush official Roh says 'sorry' for crisis cars were necessary. 4 jailed for He said: 'In the public sector, when there is a need to establish presence, erotic dance at KL Zouk say, of a senior and important representative, a higher-end model is needed. But the Government exercises prudence in the purchase and allocation of such S'pore chairs Asean forum cars.' Twist to KL sex So why doesn't he drive a flashier car, one more befitting his status as and murder case Minister of State for Community Development and Sports, and Education?

He shakes his head and says: 'This one has served me well. It's trusty and economical. Also, I get into small parking lots easily!'

But doesn't it rile him when ushers at hotels, schools and even temples, wave him away?

'Not at all,' said Mr Chan. 'I figure that maybe they don't expect me to turn up in a small car. No problem. When they tell me to park somewhere else, I just park somewhere else,' he chuckled.

Civil servants familiar with his green Nissan are in two minds about his reluctance to part with the 'buggy'. One said: 'Sometimes, it's a bit embarrassing because more junior officials are driving bigger, more expensive cars.'

But a Community Development and Sports Ministry official thinks otherwise: 'It's cool. Driving an unassuming car helps him connect to the people on the ground. He's a man with no airs and the car suits him perfectly.'

Mr Chan is used to hearing chatter about his car. When he became second adviser to the Joo Chiat grassroots organisation in 1996, before he was elected, grassroots leaders urged him to switch to a fancier car.

'They said if I wanted to switch, I should do it before the election, otherwise later on, it would look as if I was being extravagant,' he said with a laugh.

Others think he's trying to make a political statement or to be different, but he maintains that he sticks with his wheels for practical reasons.

He has clocked about 257,000km - roughly 1,700 times the length of 's coastline - in the $80,000 car he bought nine years ago and it has broken down only three times.

Aside from occasional air-conditioning and radiator leaks, it gives no trouble. Best of all, it goes 15km on a litre of petrol.

The March was the most popular 1,000cc car in the 1990s, when 4,000 were sold, said distributor Tan Chong Motor Sales. It was discontinued in 1999.

Before Mr Chan bought the March, he owned a Hyundai Sonata, which his wife usually drove. She now drives a Toyota Camry that was bought four years ago.

Asked if he has a dream car, Mr Chan admits that the Peugeot 206 stands out from the rest, because 'it's beautifully designed'.

But it's unlikely he'll ever own one. He said: 'I'm used to little cars that are like reliable work horses. If I do get a new one, it'll probably be another small car.'

His March is nearly 10 years old and he must soon decide if he wants to renew the certificate of entitlement (COE) for another five years.

But he has a more personal reason for wanting to keep it. It was paid for in part with money that his maternal grandmother left him - enough to cover the COE - when she died in 1994.

He said: 'This car, it's something to remember my grandmother by. She has a stake in it and that's why I don't want to give it up.'

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