Bids for special ‘M’sia’ number plates to go online

PUTRAJAYA: Bids for the special “Malaysia” number plates will be done online, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said.

As a result, the bidding, which was initially scheduled to be held from July 2 to 16, has been postponed to Aug 1 to 16, as the ministry vets a proposal by an IT firm to conduct the online bidding.

“The firm approached the ministry to help us conduct the bidding for these special number plates online. They are doing it for free as a form of national service and will not charge bidders and impose service fees.

“Our ministry has agreed to this in principle, but it is still pending the Finance Ministry’s approval.

“In the meantime, the company will also have to prove to us that there will not be any glitches in the system,” he told reporters after chairing his ministry’s post-Cabinet meeting here yesterday.

Loke said those bidding for a special number would normally need to go to the Road Transport Depar­tment (JPJ) office to register.

But, with online bidding, bidders can do it in the comfort of their homes.

“Also, the practice before this was that bidders would have to place a 50% deposit via a bank draft.

“However, it was a bit discouraging because it took up to three months for the deposit to be returned to the bidder if his bid was unsuccessful.

“If someone bid RM100,000, then his depo­sit of RM50,000 could be held up to three months.

“Through e-bidding, only a credit card hold will be imposed for the deposit.

“The bidder’s credit card will only be charged when he gets the number.

“I believe this will encourage more bidders and in turn raise more revenue for the Government,” said Loke.

On another matter, he said the “cash for clunkers” programme, where car owners are offered a cash rebate when they trade in their old vehicles, had been called off.

“The ministry previously conducted a study on this programme. However, due to negative feedback from the public, the study has been called off and the programme postponed indefinitely,” he said.

On the future of e-hailing services and the taxi industry, Loke said the Government was committed to ensuring a level playing field for both public transport providers.

“The Government’s stand is that e-hailing services like Grab will not be banned. But it will be regulated. SPAD (Land Public Trans­port Com­mission) will come up with the proposal on this.

“I assure taxi driver groups that we understand their concerns and we are not sitting on this matter.

“Hopefully, I can make an announcement on this in mid-July,” said Loke.

In 2017, Parliament passed amend­ments to the Land Public Transport Act 2010 and the Com­mer­cial Vehicles Licensing Board Act 1987 to allow e-hailing services to be regu­lated.