JPJ defends ‘Patriot’

Dept: Special number plate schemes are not new

PETALING JAYA: The Road Transport Department has defended the “Patriot” registration series for vehicles, saying special number plate programmes are not new.

Its directorgeneral Datuk Seri Ismail Ahmad said Yayasan Patriot Negara Malaysia (YPN) was accorded the “Patriot” vehicle registration plate programme and it went through the required application process lasting more than a year.

The foundation, he said, had until this December to offer the number plates, from 1 to 9999, to bidders.

“Regardless of whether or not YPN is able to sell all the numbers, they have to pay RM1mil to the Government,” Ismail said in a statement yesterday.

He said YPN had already paid half of the amount, with the rest to be paid six months later.

He said YPN’s RM10mil to RM15mil profit estimated by certain quarters was merely a projection.

“We firmly state that the Government did not guarantee any kind of earnings for YPN,” he said.

Ismail added that JPJ would monitor how the funds collected were used.

“We need 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,” said Ismail.

He added that the department reserved the right to impose additional terms and conditions.

Referring to a report by DAP against JPJ and the Transport Ministry lodged at the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission, Ismail said the JPJ would cooperate fully with investigations.

YPN was set up on April 12, 2013, to initiate programmes relating to encouraging racial unity, religious tolerance and patriotism among Malaysians.

The NGO is led by government retirees and those from the private sector with the aim of encouraging a harmonious nation.