Malaysia boasts a vibrant car culture, with special number plates playing a significant role in making vehicles stand out on the roads.
Recently, Malaysian beauty influencer Anna Chin spent RM145,000 to secure the license plate ‘ANN4’ because it resembles her name.
In a Facebook post on May 28, Chin expressed her surprise at winning the bid for the plate. She revealed her readiness to bid up to RM200,000 to secure it, showing her dedication to obtaining this personalized plate.
August of last year, actor Azhar Sulaiman put his unique “Mafi4” license plate up for auction, starting at an eye-catching RM1.85 million. These instances show the lengths to which individuals go to obtain special number plates.
On the other hand, some individuals opt for vanity plates. These special number plates need official government approval before they can be made available to the public.
Here are 6 notable examples of such special number plates in Malaysia.
PERFECT
Photo credit: Paul Tan
The PERFECT plate series was a fundraiser organized by the Table Tennis Association of Malaysia. This initiative aimed to support the development of table tennis in Malaysia and to nurture young talent in the sport.
Unlike most number plates that range from 1 to 9999, the PERFECT plates are limited to just 100, ranging from PERFECT 1 to PERFECT 100. Approximately RM3 million was raised by June 2016 through these plates. The plates are awarded via bidding, with the lowest successful bid around RM20,000, and the highest reaching up to RM1 million, likely for the PERFECT 1 plate.
You might wonder why the word “PERFECT” is associated with table tennis. The plates are named after the Perfect Malaysia Open 2016, a local tournament sponsored by Perfect China Co Ltd, a Zhongshan-based direct sales company founded by a Malaysian entrepreneur.
IM4U
Photo credit: Paul Tan
Some of you may recall that iM4U, or 1Malaysia For Youth, was a movement initiated by Najib in 2012. It became available as a car plate the following year to raise funds for its activities. A total of 9,999 numbers were released, with the former PM himself choosing IM4U 11, reportedly his favorite number. The IM4U plates serve as a reminder of the importance of youth involvement in national development and the spirit of volunteerism.
PATRIOT
Photo credit: Paul Tan
The PATRIOT plate series was created by Yayasan Patriot Negara Malaysia, an organization dedicated to fostering patriotism among Malaysians. One of the most expensive car plates ever sold in Malaysia, PATRIOT 1, fetched RM1.3 million.
BAMbee
Introduced for members of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), the BAMbee plates are a tribute to Malaysia’s strong badminton culture. Malaysia has produced world-class badminton players, and this plate celebrates the achievements and contributions of BAM to the sport. First issued in 2000 to commemorate the Thomas and Uber Cup badminton tournament held in Malaysia, these plates have strict criteria and are exclusively available to members of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
VIP
Photo credit: Paul Tan
The VIP plate series was introduced as part of the Visit Pahang 2017 campaign. These plates were sold to the public to raise funds for the campaign and increase the visibility of the state’s tourism efforts. At the time, beauty mogul Datuk Vida reportedly bid for VIP 1 and VIP 6, intending to attach one of these plates to a Bugatti Veyron for her then nine-year-old son.
RM
Photo credit: Paul Tan
The RM plate, issued for cars registered in Perlis, gained considerable attention when it was auctioned off in 2015. This plate represents more than just a regional designation; it embodies a part of the local identity and history of Perlis. The RM series quickly gained a reputation for prestige among car owners nationwide. But who snagged the coveted “RM 1”? None other than the esteemed Raja Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin.
