PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will only participate in the investigation of the alleged malfeasance at JPJ regarding the registration of classic vehicle licence plates if corruption is present.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the Transport Ministry's special task force should probe the matter since they were already in the loop as the initial exposè was through a report by a committee.
He added that it was possible a minister was involved in the approval process for the classic vehicle licence plates.
"After my officers probed the matter, the source of the exposè may have been based on a report by a committee. If it's based on that, there would also be an audit report.
"The Transport Ministry is probably already informed of the misconduct. The issue of the classic vehicle number plates is that the approval was given by the then minister. The minister has the authority to do so.
"So let them (the special task force) investigate and we will only come in if there is power abuse or corruption matters," he said.
He added that MACC would only open investigation papers after examining the information closely.
Last Friday, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced the establishment of a special task force, which comprises members of the Integrity Unit of the Transport Ministry, to investigate allegations of misconduct at JPJ, related to the registration of classic vehicle number plates.
He said that he highlighted the matter in the post-Cabinet meeting, following the disclosure of documents, known as the JPJandora Papers, by the Telegram Edisi Siasat.
Edisi Siasat claimed that the classic registration numbers had been revived and sold for hundreds of thousands of ringgit, with the activity said to be orchestrated by JPJ officials themselves.
Included is a 28-page document which, among others, displays a list of the number plates of classic vehicles, which are allegedly brought back and registered for ownership, and some which have already been sold at a very good price, either to individuals or companies.
The document also provides details on the total numbers listed based on the year, since 2007, as well as by state, with Selangor, Perak and Johor among the highest.