Mercedes stranded in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Eight hundred Mercedes-Benz cars are stranded at a port in Malaysia as authorities decide whether to allow them into the country, reported the national Bernama news agency.

"It's true that the cars have arrived at Port Klang," Entrepreneur Development Minister Mustapa Mohamed was quoted as telling reporters after an official function.

He said the Malaysian cabinet will decide by next week the fate of the cars, part of a consignment of 1,050 Mercedes worth 260 million ringgit (US$76 million).

Airport Limo (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, which has won a contract to operate limousine services from the new Kuala Lumpur International Airport, had imported the cars. The airport is scheduled to open early next year.

But the government, under pressure to reduce the country's import bill, later asked the company to consider using locally made Protons.