Liow insists he never bid, blames RTD for mess

Embattled Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai has put the blame on the Road Transport Department (JPJ) over the mess involving the WWW 15 vehicle registration number. 

In an interview with the Malay Mail, the MCA leader said he was only exercising his option as a cabinet minister to obtain one preferred number without charge and did not make the RM24,200 winning bid. 

“It’s uncalled for, for the JPJ to put my name up like that as it has raised a lot of questions and put me in a bad light,” he said, adding that he was “puzzled” to find his name on the list. 

While he admitted to handling the matterpoorly, Liow, who was appointed in April 2009 and had not exercised his right to a free preferred number, said MCA chief Dr Chua Soi Lek made matters worse.  

“Yes, it did not help the situation, but he was just trying to help... I apologise for the confusion and will get to the bottom of this,” he said.

Chua had attempted to assist Liow when the latter was unable to answer media queries about the matter during a recent press conference, by saying it was a matter of “from the left hand to the right hand”. 

“I admit I did not handle it very well because I was not sure what had happened. I should have just said: ‘no comments until I find out what happened because as far as I know I never bid for any numbers’,” Liow said.

'I'd refund the money'

The MCA deputy president also expressed concern about the winning bid listed, as it could mean that someone in the Health Ministry could have unknowingly paid for the number. 

“If that were the case, I would have immediately demanded that we cancel the option, the ministry be refunded and I would have paid for it out of my own pocket.

“At the end of the day, it is only RM24,200. I can pay it myself!”

JPJ director-general Solah Mat Hassan earlier today issued a statement saying that Liow hadthree options - accept the offer for free which is in line with his official status, pay the bidding price, or reject the number plate.   

Solah also revealed that the health minister’s application to bid for the number was dated May 14, the last day for the public to bid for the glamorous WWW plate numbers.

“The evaluation committee for the bidding of WWW plate numbers then decided that the WWW15 plate number will be offered to Liow with highest bidding price of RM24,200,” read the statement.

Solah explained that it is the department policy to publish the names of all successful bidders in keeping with the principle of transparency.