A car license plate bearing the popular Chinese name "Tan" has sold for RM200,000 (US$54,050) in Malaysia, setting a new national record, officials said Friday.

The price exceeds the RM166,000 fetched last year for a "JJJ" license plate, which stands for 'jien, jien, jien', or, 'money, money, money' in Chinese.

Road Transport Department director-general Emran Kadir told the official Bernama news agency that the TAN number plate went to a Mr Tan in eastern Terengganu state, but that his exact identity would not be revealed.