TRANSPORT Minister Anthony Loke announced today that non-governmental bodies will no longer be given authorisation to sell special vehicle registration number plates as the ministry aims to increase revenue collection.

However, the 30-odd groups, which had already obtained approval to sell specially-registered number plates, will be allowed to continue doing so for a year.

Loke said, in the past, selected organisations were only required to only pay a minimal sum to the transportation department for each special registration plate, which they would then sell at marked-up prices to raise funds.

“All these groups can continue selling the numbers for a year. I will then stop this practice. No group will be authorised to do this in the future.

“All proceeds must go to the government through the Road Transport Department, because I understand that groups only have to pay RM1 million when they can sell 9,999 numbers,” Loke said at a press conference in his ministry today.

He said that in 2017, JPJ contributed RM4 billion to the government’s coffers, comprising mostly from motor vehicle licenses, road tax and driving licenses.

The total amassed from the sale of specialised number plates only amounted to RM280 million, not including RM130 million received from the sale of registration numbers that do not need to be bid for.

Loke said the system of selling and bidding for registration numbers will now be conducted online to ensure greater transparency.

Limited-edition number plates are occasionally released to interested vehicle owners. Among some of the registration plates in the past include “SMS”, “Rimau”, “Perfect”, “NAAM”, “VIP”, “GT” and “Patriot”. – May 24, 2018.