Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir described Barisan Nasional’s (BN) promise to reduce car prices between 20 to 30 per cent is far wiser than the offer made by Pakatan Rakyat.

He said the suggestion was made through discussions with the government and car manufacturers which also produced a positive result.

Mukhriz even described BN’s suggestion as better compared to Pakatan’s manifesto.

“Car prices are reduced between RM2,000 to RM17,000 but the revenue for tax collection does not go down,” he said when by reporters.

He said the reduction on import tax does not necessarily make the car prices go down.

“For example hybrid cars in Malaysia do not have any tax on it but the prices are more expensive than the same cars in the United States. Why? This is because the market is larger,” said Mukhriz.

Meanwhile, Mukhriz also reminded people not to fall for any empty promises made by Pakatan Rakyat.

He also described the manifesto tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as ‘realistic and has a good base’.

Commenting on whether the move to lower car prices was copied from Pakatan’s idea, Mukhriz said it’s not a question of copying or not but a question of easing the people’s burden.

Pakatan had in its manifesto had promised to lower excise tax for cars by stages within five years to make car prices more competitive.

The 70 per cent excise tax for cars currently imposed by the government was considered as too high, as it escalates the prices of the cars as well.

Mukhriz was met after the launching of BN’s manifesto in Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil, last night.