RTD says will revoke ‘Patriot’ deal if conditions not met

The Road Transport Department (RTD) will revoke the arrangement with NGO Yayasan Patriot Negara Malaysia (YPN) if the 'Patriot' vehicle registration plates’ conditions are not met. The exclusive rights to the plates were reportedly sold to YPN, with the starting bid set at RM1 million. – The Malaysian Insider infographic, July 3, 2015.

The Road Transport Department will revoke the arrangement with NGO Yayasan Patriot Negara Malaysia (YPN) if its conditions are not met, its director general Datuk Seri Ismail Ahmad said today, following the controversy over the 'Patriot' vehicle registration plates.

He added that YPN was only given one year from January to December 2015 to complete bidding and sales of the Patriot number plates.

And while the specifications of the registration plates must comply with the provisions under the law for registration and licensing, RTD also had the right to determine additional terms and conditions.

 "On this score, JPJ will require YPN to produce a detailed report of how proceeds from the Patriot vehicle registration plate programme will be channelled to patriotic or social outreach programmes. 

"Additionally, there is no guarantee whatsoever that all the plates can be sold and how much can be earned from sales of these plates," Ismail said, adding that the figures by YPN were its own projection.

He also said that the government had not guaranteed any earnings for YPN, adding that payment to the government amounting RM1 million must be made whether or not YPN was able to sell the plates.

"More importantly, the Patriot vehicle registration plate programme was approved for the purpose of inculcating patriotism among Malaysian youths and for social outreach. 

"It is important to note that failure to meet any of the requirements detailed by JPJ will result in the immediate revocation of the arrangement with YPN," Ismail said.

RTD, he added, was also willing to cooperate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), if required.

It was reported that the exclusive rights to the vanity registration plates were sold to YPN as part of the NGO's fundraiser to promote moderation. The starting price for the bid was RM1 million.

It was reported that the NGO, which was set up in April 2013 to promote programmes to encourage racial unity and patriotism among Malaysians, led by government retirees and private sector members, would make gross earnings of RM10 million to RM15 million from auctioning off the 9,999 number plates.

The sale of the rights to the special registration plates has since been criticised by opposition lawmakers.

- TMI