Under fire, Liow surrenders ‘WWW 15’
(The Malaysian Insider) – Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai today said he is giving up the coveted WWW 15 registration number he had won in a bid last month, whose RM24,200 price triggered public outrage that intensified after it was waived by authorities.
“Let me reassert that I did not bid or tender for WWW 15. Following the proper procedures, my office had requested for the registration number to use for the minister’s official car,” Liow said in a statement today.
“My office received an official letter dated June 6 from the Road Transport Department (RTD) confirming the free registration number.
“As I now know there was bidding for this number, it is only right that I do not exercise my option. The number should go to the highest bidder,” he said in the statement.
The MCA deputy president also told a press conference in the Parliament lobby later that it was not right for him to take the number for free when it could have raised RM24,200 for the government.
“I am very frustrated,” he said when asked if he was disappointed that the RTD did not explain the procedure to him in full.
“I didn’t bid, I didn’t tender. My car number is not important. I only found out someone had bid for it after I came back from overseas,” the Bentong MP added.
Liow was forced to defend himself after it was recently revealed by the RTD on its website that he was among those who had won bids for various registration numbers with the coveted WWW prefix.
