Remote-controlled devices that conceal or switch vehicle registration plates are now openly sold online in Malaysia, The Star reports, prompting calls for marketplace takedowns and tougher on-road enforcement.
Safety specialists said the gadgets let motorists evade speed, red-light and toll cameras, undermining deterrence and accountability.
The devices have long been sold overseas and are increasingly visible on Malaysian platforms. Such plates are sold for between RM150 and RM350.
Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua urged for an outright prohibition on sale and use, warning that the devices are intended to hide drivers’ identities and weaken traffic enforcement systems.
He cautioned that perceived impunity could encourage dangerous behaviour, hinder investigations into serious crimes and erode public confidence in fair, consistent policing.
Transport consultant Wan Agyl Wan Hassan noted that obscuring, altering or tampering with number plates is already an offence under the Road Transport Act 1987 and JPJ regulations, carrying penalties of up to RM3,000 or possible imprisonment.
He argued that enforcement must be paired with cutting off supply, as the devices remained easy to buy on major e-commerce platforms.
The Star also reported Wan Agyl as saying that platforms are obliged to remove prohibited items once flagged under the Consumer Protection (Electronic Trade Transaction) Regulations 2024 and the Online Safety Bill, saying the same content-moderation tools used against counterfeit goods should apply to plate-flipping devices.
Road Safety Marshal Club president K. Bala pointed out the risks to emergency response, noting number plates help authorities identify vehicles and contact families during crises.
He warned that cloned or altered plates could leave innocent motorists facing summonses or wrongful links to crimes.
