Part of the Da Vinci Code?

I just wonder how the JPJ could have come up with this puzzle. The registration plate WPA1 was assigned to a minister for RM60,780 and the Transport Minister now has to make a public apology.

Is it really necessary to massage the egos of ministers with special plates when someone out there is willing to pay thousands of ringgit for special plates?

If we just take RM50,000 as a conservative number and there are 1000 desired number plates each year, the JPJ can earn RM50,000,000 each year. So if 100 such official plates are given free each year, it costs taxpayers RM5,000,000.

What happens when the minister retires? Does the plate get transferred or does it remain with the official vehicle?

photo: http://deseretnews.com/photos/0513davi.jpg