Liow: I won’t pursue WWW 15 number plate

The health minister says he did not bid for the number so, it should rightly go to the highest bidder.

PETALING JAYA: Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai will not pursue the WWW 15 number plate, an issue which has courted much controversy last week.

In a one-paragraph statement today, he said the number should instead go to the highest bidder who placed RM24,200 for the coveted number plate.

“As I now know there was bidding for this number, it is only right that I do not exercise my option. The number should go to the highest bidder,” said Liow, who is MCA deputy president.

Liow came under heavy criticism last week when he failed to answer who paid for the coveted number plate. Not only did he fumble in his reply, he also created more confusion over the matter.

Liow had insisted that he used his position as a minister to obtain the number plate, saying that the number plate was for official and not personal use.

He said that all ministers were eligible for one number plate and hence that was how he obtained the number plate.

He also said that he was not sure who paid for the plate.

The Road Transport Department (RTD), which oversees the open tender for number plates, later confirmed that the number was given to Liow for free based on his eligibility as a minister.

In a statement last Friday, RTD’s director-general, Solah Mat Hassan, said Liow had three options – he could attain it for free “according to his eligibility” as a minister, pay the full amount of RM24,200 or reject the offer.

Liow clarified today he did not make a bid for the number plate.

“Let me reassert that I did not bid or tender for WWW 15.

“Following proper procedures, my office had asked for the registration number to be used for the minister’s official car.

“My office received an official letter dated June 6 from RTD confirming the free registration number,” he said.

It is reported that the WWW series number plate is to help bring in a profit of RM12 million to RTD.

The highest bidder for the series, the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Ismail Sultan Iskandar, outbid close to 10,000 bidders to secure the WWW 1 number plate at RM520 000.

Other notable winners include the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah who successfully bidded for the WWW 5 number plate at RM220,000.