A day after fumbling over reporters’ queries on the WWW 15 number plate which he had bid for, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai now says that he did not pay a sen for the prized number.
In a tweet late today, Liow said that he had received word from the Road Transport Department (RTD) that he need not pay the RM24,200 bidding price he had offered, as the number is “free”.
“I have received official notification from RTD that the number plate is free. There is no payment involved. Any further questions, please refer to RTD. Thank you,” he tweeted.
This, however, contradicted a report by China Press today, which quoted the Federal Territory RTD spokesperson as saying that everyone who bids for the plate numbers needs to pay for them.
He said that ministers can request for number plates for free from the Transport Ministry, but this does not apply for ‘hot numbers’ like the one for which Liow had made a bid.
In a tweet late today, Liow said that he had received word from the Road Transport Department (RTD) that he need not pay the RM24,200 bidding price he had offered, as the number is “free”.
“I have received official notification from RTD that the number plate is free. There is no payment involved. Any further questions, please refer to RTD. Thank you,” he tweeted.
This, however, contradicted a report by China Press today, which quoted the Federal Territory RTD spokesperson as saying that everyone who bids for the plate numbers needs to pay for them.
He said that ministers can request for number plates for free from the Transport Ministry, but this does not apply for ‘hot numbers’ like the one for which Liow had made a bid.
Bidders have to pay a deposit
He added that even the sultans need to bid for such numbers, as did the Johor Sultan who paid half a million ringgit for the number plate WWW 1.
He added that even the sultans need to bid for such numbers, as did the Johor Sultan who paid half a million ringgit for the number plate WWW 1.
The spokesperson also told the daily that it is unlikely for bidders to be in the dark about the amount they had bid, as all bidders will need to pay 50 percent of the the bidding prices as deposit.
Liow has since been panned for being clueless over his own bid, when asked by reporters yesterday.
He initially claimed that he “does not know the cost” and that his officer had handled the matter for him.
MCA chief Chua Soi Lek who was also present at the press conference had also stepped in to assist Liow in the Q and A session, by saying it is a matter of "from the left hand to the right hand”.
Liow has since been panned for being clueless over his own bid, when asked by reporters yesterday.
He initially claimed that he “does not know the cost” and that his officer had handled the matter for him.
MCA chief Chua Soi Lek who was also present at the press conference had also stepped in to assist Liow in the Q and A session, by saying it is a matter of "from the left hand to the right hand”.
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