KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 — Would you be willing to pay at least RM1 million to get a custom vehicle plate that says “Patriot 1”?

If you are, you can join the public auction that is being called by to the Malaysian National Patriot Foundation (YPNM) this month as part of its efforts to  “foster patriotism and unity among the multiracial Malaysian society” and raise funds for its group.

The fledgling group has claimed that the Road Transport Department (RTD) had given it the authority to auction the “Patriot” plate numbers as part of its fundraising campaign for June.

To be eligible to bid for the plates, participants must register as a YPNM volunteer before paying a deposit of 20 per cent of each plate’s bidding price.

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The opening bid for “Patriot 1” has been set at RM1 million.

According to YPNM’s website, nobody has bid for the “Patriot 1” plate yet, but a report in The Star daily today said that five individuals have started bidding and placed their deposits.

Besides “Patriot 1”, other numbers available in the Perdana category included single-digit ones, 88, 888 and 888, all starting between RM150,000 and RM580,000 each.

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The plates are divided into five categories, with the most expensive being Perdana (Grand), followed by Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Premium.

Platinum numbers are between RM20,000 and RM50,000, Gold starts at RM20,000, Silver RM5,000, Bronze RM2,000 and Premium RM1,000.

YPNM said on its website that it was formed in April 12, 2013, led by government and private retirees.