Image courtesy of Microsoft Copilot of a busy road filled with cars
by Dr Rahim Said
Oh, Malaysia, land of food, festivals, and, apparently, phallic number plates! The recent JPJ Perak announcement about raking in RM2.36 million for the “ANU” plate number series proves yet again that we are a nation blessed with unmatched priorities.
Forget infrastructure upgrades or healthcare — our collective obsession with car number plates ensures JPJ’s coffers are fuller than our potholes.
Let’s get to the heart — or should I say other anatomy —of the matter. In Malay (Perak) slang, “ANU” is a cheeky euphemism for the male private part.
So naturally, thousands of Malaysians scrambled to plaster this innuendo onto their cars. Because nothing screams “classy” quite like pulling up in a Myvi emblazoned with “ANU 69.”
And let’s not overlook the pièce de résistance, “ANU 1,” which fetched a jaw-dropping RM269,000. That’s the price of a small house or, for our bidder, a testament to both wealth and questionable taste.
But hold on — ANU isn’t even the champion plate series. That honour belongs to “AMG,” which raked in RM6 million, thanks to Mercedes-AMG owners who needed just one more way to tell us they’re rich.
It’s heartwarming to see luxury car enthusiasts matching their conspicuous consumption with equally ostentatious number plates. Who needs subtlety when you have “AMG 888”?
One can only marvel at the creativity that fuels this madness. Perhaps “ANU” bidders are just misunderstood poets, celebrating linguistic humour.
Or maybe, just maybe, it’s yet another manifestation of the Malaysian knack for spending money in the most mind-boggling ways. Either way, it’s clear we’ve turned the art of owning a car plate into a cultural phenomenon.
And what does this say about us? That Malaysians have perfected the art of merging ego with eccentricity. The JPJeBid platform isn’t just a marketplace — it’s a stage where Malaysians flex their wallets and wit.
Congratulations, Perak JPJ, for making millions off our societal quirks. Who needs fiscal reforms when you can auction off euphemisms?
Here’s to the next series. May it be SUE (Keningau), NEW (Negeri Sembilan) or perhaps the highly coveted “BOLEH.” After all, nothing unites Malaysians quite like the desire to outdo each other…one overpriced car plate at a time.
WE