Bid to promote Anwar's Madani slogan behind cars backfires as cheeky numbers fetch highest bids

The government's attempt to promote its political battle cry "Madani" by offering special vehicle number plates bearing the slogan may have had the exact opposite effect, as at least two sets of numbers in the series have generated a lot of interest among Malaysians.

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) recently released the MADANI special series for bidding, with the price ranging from RM100 to RM20,000.

Anwar Ibrahim as the country’s 10th prime minister is already the proud owner of the number plate "MADANI 10", which was presented to him by Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook shortly after the bidding was opened.

However, attention is currently on two number plates, MADANI 8481 and MADANI 47, which have generated intense interests among bidders.

The number 8481 is popular with car number enthusiasts and denotes the word "BABI" (pig).

The number 47, meanwhile, refers to the 47 corruption charges that were slapped on Anwar's deputy, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Zahid, the Umno president who was instrumental in ensuring Anwar formed the government after the hung parliament in the 2022 general election, had faced 47 charges involving criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.

In September last year, he was controversially granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA), bringing an abrupt end to his corruption trial.

Since then, critics have been using the number "47" in internet memes mocking Zahid.

The bidding for MADANI 47 was opened at RM2,500.

At press time, the number MADANI 8481 drew the highest bid at RM9,999, with more than 24 hours to go before the bidding process closes at 10pm tomorrow (Oct 23).