KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — Pro-patriotism group Yayasan Patriot Negara Malaysia (YPN) said today that they expect to make a profit of at least RM10 million from the sale of Patriot number plates.

Amid questions over how YPN obtained the number plate auction from the government, the group’s deputy chairman Datuk Nadzim Johan explained today that the non-governmental organisation (NGO) paid the Road Transport Department (RTD) a lump sum of RM1 million while a further RM1 million has been spent on overhead costs for the number plates so far.

“We expect to make at least RM10 million profit,” Nadzim told a press conference here today.

Nadzim also stressed that YPN had applied for the Patriot number plate auction in 2013, when Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein was the then-acting transport minister, and that the group only received approval this year under Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai as transport minister.

He pointed out that while the top number plate, “Patriot 1” fetched a bid of RM1.3 million, some other number plates were sold for RM500 or even given free.

“Let’s say if we fail, we’d have to bear the cost,” said Nadzim.

He said YPN plans to carry out an exhibition on National Day and distribute flags among its list of activities, besides environmental programmes.

YPN deputy director of special projects Muhammad Zharif Johor stressed that YPN was trying to be transparent by listing the bids on its website.

“We try to be transparent, but our transparency is manipulated,” he said.