KUALA LUMPUR: The development of special number plates for electric vehicles (EVs) is in its final stages, awaiting technical finalisation before the official launch.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the government is in the process of appointing a vendor to oversee the implementation.
"We are currently finalising the technical aspects. Once this is completed, we will promptly make the announcement," he told reporters at a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing between Batik Air and Kia on a new private terminal transfer service here today.
Loke emphasised that while the adoption of these plates will initially be voluntary, new EVs will be required to bear them as a mandatory measure.
"For existing EV owners, they will have the option to switch to the new plates," he said.
Previously, the Transport Ministry announced that all EVs across the country will eventually be issued special number plates beginning with 'EV' followed by the registered number and so forth (e.g. EV1, EV2).
The ministry also said the road tax pricing structure for EVs would undergo a thorough review.
The government intends to align its policies with the goal of promoting EV adoption in Malaysia as part of its sustainability objectives.
The special number plates are also said to incorporate RFID technology as an additional feature.
No specific timeline was given when these initiatives will be implemented.
On a separate note, Loke brushed off claims regarding Lim Kit Siang's statement on rebuilding the Chinese population.
"Only one response to this, rubbish," he stressed.
He was responding to a reported statement made by Datuk Seri Najib Razak's former political aide Romen Bose who claimed that the special branch was monitoring several DAP leaders including its stalwart Lim, who purportedly said was keen to "rebuild the Chinese population".
This statement has been published by Bose in his book Shattered Hopes, which describes the events after Pakatan Harapan came to power in 2018.