PUTRAJAYA, July 9 — Ministers will not be allowed to receive expensive gifts such as Mercedes-Benz luxury vehicles or even the ubiquitous local marque Proton, but will only be able to accept food, flowers or pewter plaques, the prime minister said today.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad declared that this rule — that is aimed at combating corruption and unexplainable assets that do not match income levels — will apply to himself and also the deputy prime minister.

“But of course, if he is given a Mercedes, he has to reject. Not only Mercedes, even Proton cannot,” he said in a press conference after chairing a special Cabinet committee on anti-corruption here.