The Road Transport Department (RTD) vouched that it received official orders from the Transport Ministry to reserve vehicle registration plates bearing 'MCA' to be reserved for members of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA).

NONE In a statement today, RTD director Solah Mat Hassan said that they received an "official letter" from the private secretary of the Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat ( right ) dated Feb 17 commanding the department to not put the 'MCA' vehicle registration plates to open bidding.

"This directive is still in force until today, and there was never a new directive from Ong during his tenure as minister," said Solah.

Ong's successor Kong Cho Ha had revealed on Tuesday that the former had asked for tenders for the registration numbers in Malacca beginning from MCA 1 to MCA 9999 to be exempted.

However, Ong, who is also the former MCA president, had earlier denied that he had issued such an instruction to the RTD and his orders were to not reserve any car registration numbers for the public whether in Malacca or any state except for certain cases and after due diligence by his ministry.

"For the registration numbers to be re-opened to the public, the RTD needs a new directive from the (current) transport minister to cancel the old order made by a former minister," said Solah.