The Malaysian Insight

A local company has volunteered to launch an e-bidding site for car plate numbers for free to help the new Pakatan Harapan government raise revenue, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced today.

“Members of the public won’t have to go to JPJ (Road Transport Department) office anymore, they can bid online,” Loke said in a press conference after the weekly cabinet meeting in Putrajaya.

The e-bidding site is set to go live in August, pending the Finance Ministry’s approval for the project.

“It’s a special pilot project to raise funds for the government. The company won’t charge the government or the users,” said Loke.

There will be a minimum price set for single and double-digit plates, he added.

“The company came to us. There is no obligation to award the company anything. It’s their CSR (corporate social responsibility project),” he said.

Loke said the company will test out the site in July.

Once the deal is finalised, the ministry will announce the company’s name and more details, he said.

Meanwhile, Loke also announced that the Transport Ministry has shelved its plan to study the possibility of launching a cash for clunkers programme, a cash rebate scheme for motorists to trade in their old cars.

“For the time being, this is off the table,” said Loke after receiving brickbats from the public for the proposal.

However, to address residents’ complaints of abandoned cars in neighbourhoods, JPJ will look into introducing a de-registration certificate.

“Many of these abandoned cars are still registered. JPJ will study how to issue a de-registration certificate so that local councils can take action,” he said. – June 27, 2018