Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai “probably didn’t explain properly” and made the situation harder for himself, when faced with questions on his bid for the WWW15 car number-plate.

NONE Commenting today, Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said: "It's difficult for him to explain. People get worried because he is a minister. He (himself) didn't apply (for the number), (so) when this thing happened, he probably didn't explain properly.”

He defended Liow’s interest in the number-plate, claiming that the premier and ministers often use single and double-digit number-plates on their official cars.

 

For example, he said, former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's official car displayed ‘13' on the number-plate.

 

"... but these are government cars (which don’t) belong to (ministers). So, it's normal practice," Nazri told Malaysiakini at his office in Parliament House.

 

He also said he had paid RM10,100 for the WWW97 number-plate, to be used for a future personal new car.

He said he had participated in the Road Transport Department’s bidding exercise as he likes the number 97.

 

"I like the number of 9 and 7," he said, revealing that all cars registered under his name have 97 on the number-plate.

However, his official car does not display his favourite number.

Nazri said he has registered WWW97 to a motorcycle and will transfer it later to a new car when he buys one.

‘I’m rich’

 

Asked if this would leave the public wondering about his sources of income, Nazri was forthright: "I am rich, I am rich, yes. I was a practising lawyer, I am wealthy."

 

He said he had made his money before getting into politics, from his professional work as a lawyer from 1978-1995, as well as his involvement in business.

Asked how many cars he owns, he appeared vague: "I have, ehhhhhh ..., I can't remember, under my name, maybe three ... all old cars. I don't sell them."

 

When he completes paying for each car, he goes for another one, he said, adding that the vehicles are for his own use.

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