DAP’s Tanjong MP Ng Wei Aik has written to four government agencies urging them to act against Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai and Yayasan Patriot Negara Malaysia (YPN) over the sale of the controversial ‘Patriot 1’ number plate.

Ng said he sent the letter to Malaysian Competition Commission (MCC) chief executive officer Mohd Khalid Abdul Samad, Customs Malaysia director general Khazali Ahmad, Inland Revenue Board chief executive officer Mohd Shukor Mahfar, and Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism chief secretary Alias Ahmad.

“Was Liow pressured by Umno to approve the auction of the number plate by YPN?” asked the Penang DAP Youth chief.

"Was he under pressure from Umno as the contract was negotiated during Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein's tenure as acting transport minister?" Ng ( right ) asked at a press conference yesterday.

Ng was referring to the ‘Patriot 1’ car number plate which yesterday went for a sky-high bid of RM1.308 million, earning itself the title of the most expensive number plate in the country.

It was auctioned off by YPN, which set a reserve price of RM1 million. The bidding started on June 22 and ended yesterday.

Ng said Liow had claimed the approval of the auction by YPN followed proper public procedure but said no one is aware of it.

Why let YPN earn?

He added that there were many needy schools or NGOs like the National Kidney Foundation that are more suitable to receive the benefits from the sale of such a plate than YPN.

“YPN does not seem to have any daily activities, is irrelevant to society at large, and is solely an Umno crony,” Ng claimed.

Ng urged the relevant authorities to act against those who gained a windfall from the "get rich quick scheme" which he said appears to be protected by the government, as it violates the 2011 Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act.

“Don't merely act against normal citizens and condone such acts by pro-BN organisations,” said Ng.

Meanwhile, Ng said the sale of the number plate  is a commercial activity which has no direct link to the government.

He added the Road and Transport Department could have carried out the auction instead of granting YPN the “exclusive right” to do so.

“Is it this because the NGO has a political link to the ruling party?” Ng asked.

Exclusivity questioned

Ng said since the auction is a private commercial activity, it cannot be exempted from competition.

By giving the exclusive auction right to YPN without an open tender, the minister has violated the 2010 Competition Act, he added.

Under the Act, those convicted can be fined up to RM1 million, or imprisoned not more than five years or both, Ng said.

He also pointed out that since YPN is a private body, it is subject to the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

“YPN should also be subjected to pay income tax so that nobody can escape from carrying out their obligation to pay taxes,” Ng said.