Does the Road Transport Act 1987 grant ministers sole authority over number plates?

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The Road Transport Act 1987 vests authority over vehicle number plate registration with the Transport Minister.

The Road Transport Act 1987 explicitly grants the Transport Minister the sole authority to register any vehicle number plate. This authority extends to the approval of special registration numbers (NPI), with no provisions allowing any party to claim intellectual property rights over these designations. The Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) has clarified that copyright protection applies to associated documentation, not the physical number plates themselves, which cannot be copyrighted.
Ministerial Authority on Special Registration Numbers

The Road Transport Act 1987 clearly stipulates that the power to approve special registration numbers rests with the Transport Minister. This ministerial prerogative is central to the registration process for unique or desired vehicle identifiers.
Absence of Intellectual Property Rights

There is no legal basis for any individual or entity to hold intellectual property rights over special registration numbers. The framework established by the Act does not recognise such claims, reinforcing the government's ultimate control over these plates.
MyIPO's Clarification on Copyright

The Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) has confirmed that copyright protection pertains to the paperwork and documentation related to number plates, not the plates themselves. Consequently, number plates are not eligible for copyright.

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Does the Road Transport Act 1987 grant ministers sole authority over number plates?

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