KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 — Cosmetics millionaire Datuk Aliff Syukri Kamarzaman must pay the Road Transport Department (RTD) RM49,000 for using a Rolls Royce car registered in Sarawak on peninsular Malaysian roads.

RTD’s Kuala Lumpur chief Ismail Mohd Zawawi clarified that the sum owed by the tycoon was the remaining amount of the Motor Vehicle License price in West Malaysia, which does not include the penalty fee under Section 23 of the Road Transport Act 1987, Malay daily Utusan Malaysia reported today.

"The car was used in the peninsula, priced at RM54,500 a year, but he had only paid RM5,800, which is 10 times cheaper when the vehicle was registered in Sarawak.

"Therefore, he needs to settle the remaining tax of about RM49,000 before sorting out other matters, which this includes using the wrong  specifications for vehicle number plate,” Ismail was quoted saying.

Ismail was also reported saying an interrogation notice has been sent to Aliff Syukri, ordering him to present himself and his car at any RTD branch in the country before January 22 for investigations.

"If he fails to do so, then he case will be brought to court and he will be imposed an additional fee. What is worse is the vehicle may be blacklisted.

"This case is unique and it rarely happens. We hope this would be a lesson to all parties to not manipulate the area of declaration,” the official was quoted saying.

Aliff Syukri, the founder of D’Herbs Holdings Sdn Bhd, drew controversy after a Rolls Royce said to belong to his company was impounded in Bangsar on January 1 for displaying a motor vehicle license valid to be used only in Sarawak where the road tax costs RM5,873 compared to about RM20,000 in the peninsula.

Abroad at that time, he initially denied that the car was his but subsequently admitted ownership though he tried to deflect the fault by pinning it on his staff.

He was quoted by The Star daily as saying: "I own many cars, so I cannot really say that it is my fault or JPJ’s because I am not aware of it myself. Do you think I have time to buy the road tax or licence [plate]? All of these are done by my employees.”