KUALA KANGSAR: Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said that he approved the exclusive rights for sale of the “Patriot” vehicle registration series to Yayasan Patriot Negara (YPN), but denied any abuse of power was involved.

“I’m the one who approved it, so [there’s] nothing wrong with the procedures,” he told a press conference during a visit to Kuala Kangsar to inspect new electric trains being commissioned by KTM Bhd.

Liow said the approval was carried out according to a procedure that was already in place and made known to the public by the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

When asked if anyone could apply for the rights to sell the vehicle plates, he said there are certain requirements that need to be fulfilled, one of which is that the party “must have national interest”. However, he did not elaborate what that entailed.

“JPJ has made it clear and the procedures have been announced. All is above board and I don’t see any wrongdoing in it.

“If there is anything, we welcome investigation,” he said.

Perak DAP chairman and Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Ming said it was a blatant abuse of power by the ministry to transfer public funds to a little known non-governmental organisation such as YPN.

Nga said by giving the sale rights to YPN, the ministry is losing the opportunity to collect millions in public funds from the lucrative bidding.

The Patriot 1 vehicle plate was reportedly bid for RM1.3 million, and touted as the highest-priced vanity vehicle plate in the country to date. 

Nga demanded that the Transport Ministry immediately halt the sale of the vanity car plate, and also called for JPJ’s application procedure to be made known for other interested organisations to apply.

A report was also lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate if abuse of power was involved in the ministry’s approval of the rights to YPN. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on July 10, 2015.