KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Red tape has been blamed for the high cost of maintaining the government's fleet of Proton Perdanas.

Proton Edar Dealers Association Malaysia's (Peda) deputy president Armin Ba-niaz Pahamin called on the state and Federal Governments to lift the monopoly on the service and maintenance of these vehicles at government-registered authorised workshops.

"They should end this practice to ensure competitiveness and to provide an option for servicing and maintenance," he said.

"This will do away with corruption and the exorbitant costs."

Armin said there were more than 300 authorised Proton Edar and Eon service dealers who could provide more competitive quotations.

"These dealers have been appointed after very stringent and regular assessments for competency and quality control.

Armin said the statements by the the state governments of Terengganu, Perak and Penang of the high cost of maintenance of their Proton Perdanas were damaging to Proton dealers.

"We know for a fact that the maintenance costs of Proton Perdanas sold now is not as exorbitant, given that the cars are sold with a five-year extended warranty.

"Regular scheduled maintenance range from RM200(S$83) to RM500 per annum," Armin said.