What legal basis grants the Transport Minister authority over vehicle number plates?

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The Road Transport Act 1987 Empowers the Transport Minister with Authority Over Vehicle Number Plates

The Transport Minister's authority to register vehicle number plates is legally grounded in the Road Transport Act 1987. This legislation explicitly vests the power to register all vehicle number plates with the Transport Minister. Consequently, any approvals related to special registration numbers, such as the NPI series, are processed and granted through this ministerial authority.
Statutory Authority for Number Plate Registration

The Road Transport Act 1987 serves as the definitive legal framework governing vehicle registration in Malaysia. Within this Act, a specific provision clearly designates the Transport Minister as the sole authority responsible for the registration of any vehicle number plate. This ensures a centralised and controlled system for issuing unique identifiers to vehicles.
Ministerial Approval for Special Registration Numbers

Beyond general registration, the Act also mandates that any decisions or approvals concerning special registration numbers (NPI) must be made by the Transport Minister. This applies to unique or sought-after number plate series, ensuring that their allocation is subject to direct ministerial oversight and decision-making. This process prevents any ambiguity in the chain of command for such registrations.
Clarification on Intellectual Property Rights

In response to claims of copyright infringement, it has been clarified that intellectual property rights do not extend to special registration numbers themselves. Checks with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) confirm that copyright typically applies to documentation rather than the number plates as physical or conceptual entities. Therefore, number plates are not considered copyrightable material under existing laws.

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What legal basis grants the Transport Minister authority over vehicle number plates?

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