Number Plates News

Malaya Set to Join the Pricey Plates Club

23 December 2009

The authorities in the Malaysian state of Kuala Terengganu, have received rival bids, each equivalent to nearly £36,000, for the number plate TAY 1. The State Road Transport Department director, Abdul Rahman Emang Anyie, received the offers from two businessmen after he spoke recently at a seminar on tyre safety.

There is speculation that further bids may be forthcoming and it would take only about £15 to smash the current record price paid for the registration TAN 1.

The local registration sales system seems to operate in a slightly different way to that of the UK and most other countries. Registrations are offered for a limited time on a highest tender basis, rather than by public auction. For example, the closing date for the number TAX 1 has just passed and the bidder of £30,000 has simply to make the payment in order to secure and register the plate.

Whilst this is a fairer arrangement in some ways, the excitement of an open auction would, no doubt, generate more interest in the country's blossoming trade in personal plates.

As a natural consequence of British rule until 1957, Malaya's two million motorists still drive on the left. The vehicle registration system also retains elements of its UK counterpart, giving rise to familiar combinations such as those above.

Interestingly, however, the Malays have kept the traditional white lettering on a black background, for both front and back plates, and have not so far succumbed to the less aesthetically pleasing white front and yellow rear plates now favoured by many other countries. As a contemporary concession however, modern plates are no longer constructed from pressed metal sheet but employ cheaper acrylic materials with printed characters.

As well as further information regarding Maylasian Plates, this site contains fascinating details about number plates from many other parts of the world.

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