RM150,000 for a number plate

ONE man's luxury car is another man's number plate. A motorist was reportedly more than happy to part with RM150,000 just to obtain the registration number JJJ 1, an amount which could have paid for a nice car or even a terrace house. 

According to the Johor Road Transport Department (JPJ), that was the most coveted number plate in the September bid.  

This was believed to be the highest sum ever after BBB 888 and BBB 8888 were sold for RM1mil a few years ago. 

Berita Minggu reported that JPJ director-general Datuk Emran Kadir is expected to announce the name of the successful bidder of JJJ 1 next week. 

The bidding rate for single-digit vehicle registration numbers from JJJ2 to JJJ9 was between RM50,000 and RM100,000. 

Johor JPJ director Nasir Mat Dam said the department was surprised with the overwhelming response.  

The daily also featured an article about former Mara-sponsored students who had defaulted on their loans. 

Apparently, Mara was mulling the possibility of not offering loans to the children of these defaulters. 

“We may have to resort to this even though it is unfair to their children,” its director-general Datuk Zamani Md Noor was quoted as saying, adding that this measure might have to be taken if the borrowers don't settle their loan arrears. 

The outstanding amount owed by 79,000 borrowers currently stands at RM111mil. 

Zamani said there have been cases of students applying for study loans and it was subsequently discovered that their fathers had defaulted on their still owed Mara. 

Mingguan Malaysia reported that an exercise to detect cancer at the early stage among Malaysians would be launched in February. 

The National Cancer Council will deploy mobile examination units under the RM1.1mil project. 

Council president Datuk Mohd Farid Arifin said the programme would reach people at all levels as the mobile units would make house-to-house visits. 

“It is important that cancer is detected early so that chances of a full recovery is 60%.” 

Cancer is the second most deadly killer in Malaysia after heart disease.