PUTRAJAYA: The Transport Ministry will launch a pionering e-bidding system on Aug 1 for the special Malaysia series vehicle number plates for Merdeka Day.
Its Minister Anthony Loke said that the e-bidding system would involve a local company, which offered to setup the system for the ministry for free.
“We have agreed (to the system) in principle, but it is still pending approval from the ministry,” he said during a press conference at the ministry here this afternoon.
He said that once the system is up and running, bidding for the special vehicle series registration numbers would run from Aug 1 to 16.
Loke said that if the launch is successful, the Ministry is looking into using the e-bidding system for normal vehicle registration number plates.
“Under the (existing) conventional system (for bidding vehicle plate numbers), applicants need to pay 50 percent (of the bid) via bank draft.
“If the person does not win the bid, the process to return the deposit can take between two to three months.
“With this (e-bidding) system, it is done online via credit card. Even if the bidder does not succeed, he does not have to pay anything," Loke added.