Malaysian minister stumbles over special car plate bid

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A Malaysian minister has provoked outrage with a 24,200 ringgit bid for a special number plate for his official car, at first saying he did not know who had paid for the item, then claiming it was free.

Malaysia's Road Transport Department (RTD) has sold off plates prefixed WWW - an Internet-related allusion to technology - to raise funds.

It released a list of winning tenders, showing Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai had secured "WWW 15" with a bid of 24,200 ringgit.

But with questions being asked over whether official funds were being spent on a vanity acquisition, Liow reportedly at first said he did not know who paid the money as he had asked his officials to secure the plate.

Liow then tweeted on late Wednesday that the RTD had told him there was no need for payment.

"I have received official notification from RTD that the number plate is free. There is no payment involved. Any further Qs pls refer to RTD. TQ," he wrote.

Road Transport Department officials could not immediately be reached for comment.