Hence, there is nothing much the Road Transport Department (JPJ) can do about bidders who hoard numbers and resell them at higher prices to vehicle owners, The Star Online reported a JPJ spokesman as saying.
This was in response to a report in the portal earlier today that a local “mafia group” is buying up popular vehicle registration numbers from JPJ and reselling them at inflated prices, with full knowledge of JPJ.
According to the spokesman, current procedures allowed for the highest bidder to get the number.
“We are aware that many car owners are not pleased as they feel these numbers are being hoarded. We are looking into how we can fix this situation,” he said.
He explained that during a bidding, only companies with valid registrations are allowed to bid for numbers.
“Once the bidder has been confirmed, they need to pay 50% of the amount. After the money is collected, we will open the tender box and rank it.
“The successful bidder must make the full payment within a month. If not, we will take it back,” he said.
He said JPJ however, will keep tabs on the situation following growing complaints from the public on the matter.
According to him, there were three categories of numbers – popular, interesting and golden (single digit numbers and 10), which starts at RM300, RM2,000 and RM10,000 respectively.
The report also said the website selling registration numbers listed them at prices that were way above the minimum bidding price set by JPJ.
Popular and interesting numbers range between RM1,500 and RM11,000 while golden numbers are being sold at a staggering RM150,000.