SEREMBAN: Personalised vehicle registration plates may have the potential to generate more revenue, but the government has no plans to introduce such a system in Malaysia, says Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
The Transport Minister said the proposal had been discussed previously, but his ministry decided not to implement it.
"There was a proposal before where, for example, buyers could have their names as their vehicle registration plates.
"Since we already have an established registration system using alphabets and numbers, we have decided to stick with it," he told reporters after presenting one-off financial assistance to some 400 taxi, rental car and school bus drivers here.
Personalised or vanity plates allow vehicle owners to pay a premium for customised combinations of letters and numbers, with some jurisdictions also allowing names or words.
Loke said Malaysia would retain its existing registration system, which has been in place for decades.
He said the ministry would, however, continue to issue two or three special registration plate series each year, with proceeds used for initiatives to assist the public.
Citing the special "H" series launched in September, Loke said it generated RM91.2mil in revenue for the government.
Part of the proceeds would be used to provide RM1,000 in assistance to 38,000 taxi and rental car drivers and 15,000 school bus drivers nationwide.
Loke said the government had already distributed the aid to eligible drivers in Putrajaya and Penang, with the remaining recipients expected to receive it within a fortnight.
"Under the first phase, I will proceed with distributing the cash aid to eligible drivers in several zones that will be announced in due course.
"The others will receive theirs under the next phase, where the money will be channelled directly into their respective bank accounts," he said.
Loke said the government would continue exploring ways to assist drivers in the sector.
He cited the National Madani Taxi Reform Programme, introduced by the ministry in collaboration with Proton, which helps taxi drivers replace ageing vehicles through discounts, tax exemptions and financing.
"To date, more than 100 vehicles have been booked under the programme," he added.
