Fancy number plates still an issue for PDRM, JPJ despite fines – makes vehicle identification harder

Fancy number plates still an issue for PDRM, JPJ despite fines – makes vehicle identification harder

Yesterday, Hafriz saw something new – a white EV plate with altered numbers. The BMW iX2 owner stuck some stuff on his 8080 number to make it look like BOBO. The white-background JPJePlate with ‘Euro-style’ fonts is supposed to be the first step in the eventual standardisation of number plates in Malaysia (there aren’t many other countries where car plates are a free for all), and yet we see tampering.

The authorities say that the use of fancy plates – or number plates that aren’t to spec – are still widespread despite the threat of a fine and even jail term. Fancy plates often have modified letters or numbers to spell out the name of the owner, or a phrase, and this makes vehicle identification harder. They’ve even detected commercial vehicles with fancy plates.

JPJ told Buletin TV3 that they recorded 74,339 cases of fancy plates compared to 56,093 in 2023, with Johor the highest in both years. Senior director of enforcement Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan said that although fancy plates are costlier, they’re still a thing because people want to stand out.

Fancy number plates still an issue for PDRM, JPJ despite fines – makes vehicle identification harder

“Normal plates are priced between RM80 to RM100 but fancy plates can cost up to RM200 to RM300. For me, this is because motorists want something different,” he said, adding that vehicle owners found guilty can be issued a compound not over RM250, a fine not over RM2,000 or jail of not more than six months, or both.

PDRM’s JSPT Bukit Aman director Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said that the use of fancy plates makes vehicle identification harder than it would be in the case of accidents or crime. “It’s difficult for us as the authorities to identify motorcycles or other vehicles involved in crime, so we have to use other technology to detect or ensure the number plate is clearer, so it’s easier to track them down,” he said.

The JSPT top man says that thanks to constant operations, the amount of saman issued for fancy plates have been reduced to 179,995 last year compared to 229,730 in 2023.

In the news segment, TV3’s reporter spoke to a workshop owner selling fancy plates. The man, who wants to be known as just Ajai, said that most of his customers are fully aware that fancy plates is an offence, but request for it anyway. His customers range from youngsters to professionals, Ajai said.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Kariayam on Apr 11, 2025 at 11:22 am

    Its only an issue for PDRM because when the drivers hand them RM50 the problem is resolved then act surprised every few months about how these plates are everywhere and urge the public that its illegal. Rinse and repeat. All talk and no enforcement.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 59 Thumb down 3
    • PH Please Step Down Now! on Apr 11, 2025 at 3:00 pm

      Doesnt help that Loke keeps selling fancy plates on near daily basis. Loke is making things worse!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
    • Dah Menang Semua on Apr 11, 2025 at 11:40 pm

      U can snap and report
      offence thru JPJ app

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
      • Lets See on Apr 14, 2025 at 10:02 am

        Loke & JPJ doesn’t care about your complaints, they only want to focus on selling more number plates.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
    • N # No
      A # Action
      T # Talk
      O # Only

      It’s like NATO

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • What’s so difficult? They make plates from their own house ka? Of course not, just fine the shop for selling off-standard plate. Simple saja! When there is no supply, they can’t have fancy plates. Ini pun mau ajar ka?

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 64 Thumb down 2
    • How would the enforcers know who made the fancy plates? Rely on the delinquent car owner’s words, without enough proof?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
      • DonkeyKong on Apr 14, 2025 at 9:38 am

        What an idiot. Number plate shops display fancy plates openly as an item that they can make and sell. There are even fancy plate sellers online. There are sellers advertising their services on Facebook. The authorities don’t need to ask fancy plate users who their sellers are.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • Agree…..they are part of the problem….hurt them most…in their pockets via penalty..n also increase licence rate for those shops n owners doing this. Make them think 10 times

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • lohija on Apr 13, 2025 at 10:19 am

      then jpj kenot get the sweet kopi money from them anymore

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • everyday, these morons keeps on talking but never ever once they fully enforce the rules.

    ailment that permeates the whole country, thus all sorts of chaos and topsy turvy situations presents itself as norm.

    enforce the law to the fullest extend as it was written. boost the penalties. watch all these issues disappear within months.

    yet they do not do it. corruption, laziness, lackadaiscal atritudes, incompetence – all at the core of this license plate issue n all the other million and one issues that are present in malaysia.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 43 Thumb down 1
    • Can they coup with the high registrations? The price would also be high and long waiting period. JPJ outsourcing could attract corruptary practices. No?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • alldisc on Apr 11, 2025 at 11:40 am

    Perhaps its time for MoT to come up with standard metal number plate with embossed letters and only produced by itself, no more third party. The number plate system we use now was inherited from the British system (look at British cars in the 60s) and yet theirs (including Singapore) have evolved according to time.

    Malaysia stuck with the past. Forever.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 36 Thumb down 3
    • How would the enforcers know who made the fancy plates? Rely on the delinquent car owner’s words, without enough proof?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
      • DonkeyKong on Apr 14, 2025 at 9:39 am

        Number plate shops openly display fancy plates availability. No need to ask car owners. What rock have you been living under?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Louis Lee on Apr 11, 2025 at 12:22 pm

    The problem with all this self esteem people do what they like even summon is not an issue. Personally it’s not the summon but what if you hit and run and witness not able to see the number plate? This is the main ID to verify not your fancy car required fancy number plate. Don’t be killer

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
    • kim jusa on Apr 13, 2025 at 10:22 am

      if the punishment for crime is fine, then the rule is for poor..rich fker dont even bat an eye, rm300 is their hourly salary

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Pisang on Apr 11, 2025 at 1:15 pm

    Suggest to use SIRIM sticker just like engine oil. This will solve the problem.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 6
  • Tangkap je on Apr 11, 2025 at 1:21 pm

    Do authorities think merely increasing punishment severity would deter this issue? Let’s not kid ourselves here. Most of these folks would be more than willing to fork out “maintenance” fee to the officer who catches them, extending the longevity and existence of said fancy plates.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 1
  • wat4mau on Apr 11, 2025 at 2:48 pm

    just have LPRs at every toll gate.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Ben Yap on Apr 11, 2025 at 3:00 pm

    majority are fancy number plate offenders are Type M.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2
  • J shukoor on Apr 11, 2025 at 3:25 pm

    JPJ blind enforcement is the whole source of the problem. The don’t summon the obvious violators but they go for those with not so obvious ones. Get those that are clearly in violation then the citizens can believe that JPJ is doing a honest job.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Because no big deal with summon, few months later will have discount, all traffic rules for show only, never really enforce properly. Look at how many motorcycle run red light? no issue at all, no one bother at all.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Joshua on Apr 11, 2025 at 6:45 pm

    JPJ should have a platform whereby the public can send the pictures of these fancy plates and JPJ imposed a hefty fines like RM 5000 and and reward RM 2000 to those who gives the information of the fancy number plates owners.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • sardin basi on Apr 11, 2025 at 7:02 pm

    Takkan harap laporan demi laporan sahaja. Mana penguatkuasaannya? Bandar sekecil kecil keciiiil Segamat, Johor ni pun merata nombor plat fancy. Kena tunggu laporan ke? Tu belum kira ekzos perang, tinted depan mafia, langgar lampu merah, berhenti garisan kuning lagi. Esok lusa bagi cerita kat media semula ‘masih berleluasa’. Tindakkan tak ada memang la berleluasa.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • Fabian on Apr 11, 2025 at 7:12 pm

    treat fancy plate as no plate and confiscated the vehicle.

    or if cannot confiscate vehicle, confiscated the number, issue a running number and ban from JPJ ebid

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Eussoffe on Apr 12, 2025 at 1:39 am

    So many enforcement authorities involved
    Traffic police,JPJ,MHA,Transport Ministry,Spad,
    Bandaraya. Why not add KPDNK. Make it an offense to sell or keep stock of us…..bike shops and accessories shop. So simple
    Even politicians and some VIPS are going against the law. Look at their vehicles first and Saman them also

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Easy, fine the shop. Stop them from selling fancy plates. Then wont have these problem anymore. Like drugs, if you chase those users, of course wont solve anything. Chase those who distribute it

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • DonkeyKong on Apr 12, 2025 at 10:22 am

    JPJ recorded more fancy plate offenses in 2024 compared to 2023. But PDRM patted themselves on the back for issuing lesser summons for fancy plates in 2024 compared to 2023. Perfect example of why our enforcement sucks.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Junkies otr on Apr 12, 2025 at 4:29 pm

    Msians love to challenge the law n they have proven to you that the law failed

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • The problem is what if they drive recklessly or get in a hit and run? How do we identify them to authorities? It’s a nuisance.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Rotimbang on Apr 13, 2025 at 7:45 am

    Punca masalahnya adalah, bila ada permintaan, maka adalah penjualannya. Kalau ada dijual, maka adalah pembelinya.

    Pastinya penggunaan plate fancy kerana ada yang menjualnya. Yang menjualnya kerana ada pembekalnya. Yang membekalkannya kerana ada pengilangnya. Simple.

    Saman pembelinya, saman penjualnya, saman pembekalnya, saman pengilangnya.

    Adakah itupun nak kene diajar oleh rakyat..? Kalau undang-undang tak dibuat, tak dilaksanakan, tak dikuatkuasakan, maka apa perlunya kalian duduk jadi ADUN/Ahli Parlimen? Apa perlunya kalian duduk jadi kerajaan?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Kurious Worm on Apr 14, 2025 at 1:52 pm

    remember when drug addiction was a problem in the 1980s? How did the gomen finally won? YES, they punish the drug dealers, instead of only catching to drug users. Do the same for these fancy plates. It is so easy to find them. These shops openly, without fear, advertise their fancy plates in front of the shop, or online shops. EASY

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • MisterChai on Apr 15, 2025 at 12:13 am

    Number plate should be used for tolls, then all users needs it to be readable. doesn’t matter if pay using e-wallet or tng card, the toll will be calculated by plate number. if malls can apply it why cant tolls

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • CurlyDog on Apr 16, 2025 at 10:20 am

    I didn’t see any difficulties for PDRM to tackle this issue. Increase the fine and pay as rewards to other car driver that report case with video especially on most to the car or motorcycle also have cam.
    We need to make sure no shop will sell those fancy plates by increase the fine to RM5000, give 10% as rewards.
    If car owner who received the summon and able to proof out which shop sell them the plates than fine will spilt to RM1000 (car owner) and RM4000 (Shop).
    I can say not long you will not see any fancy plates down the road.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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