When it comes to cars, people look for factors like model and horsepower.
However, for some, the licence plate number is also important, and they’re willing to pay through the nose for “lucky” numbers.
A woman in Malaysia reportedly bid the eye-watering sum of almost RM909,999 (~S$270,000) on the number “FF9”.
Source: @lovedevon99 on Instagram
However, she was outbid by someone who bid just RM2,000 (~S$600) more than her.
On 14 May, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced in a Facebook post that the “FF” series of number plates would be launched in the country.
He said this was to mark the 77th anniversary of Road Transport Department (JPJ).
Source: Anthony Loke on Facebook
Those interested would be able to bid for numbers online till 10pm on 18 May.
As expected, bidding for certain numbers became quite intense.
A writer attributed this to the fact that “FF” could stand for “发发” (fa fa) in Mandarin, or “huat huat“, meaning to strike it rich.
Combined with the number “9”, which is pronounced “jiu” and sounds like the Mandarin word for “long”, it basically means “to be rich forever”.
One woman, in particular, took a fancy to the number “FF9”.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Ms Ivon Wong is the founder and director of the Aesthetic Skin Group. She showed just how much she desired the number in an Instagram story.
On the day the bids closed, she shared a screenshot of her bid for “FF9”. Sharp-eyed netizens noticed that she bid RM909,999, or S$269,704.
Source: @lovedevon99 on Instagram
Ms Wong told the China Press that she decided to bid because she’s infatuated with the number “9”.
In another interview, she also revealed another significance of “FF9”: It also commemorates her deceased dog Fei Fei, who’s still in her heart.
Ms Wong also revealed that she already has two luxury cars with the number “9” on their number plates.
Source: @lovedevon99 on Instagram
She’s now ordering her third car and hopes it will have the “FF9” number plate.
However, she acknowledged that there would be winners and losers in an auction like this.
Thus, she maintained that it didn’t matter even if she lost the bid.
Apparently, her stunning bid has caused her popularity over the Internet to skyrocket, and she said it’s “too exaggerated!”
Though she wakes up to hundreds of phone messages in the morning, most of them are supportive, and she’s moved by them.
Sadly, it was not to be. Ms Wong subsequently updated in an Instagram story that the eventual winner of the number had bid RM911,999.
Source: @lovedevon99 on Instagram
That means they outbid her by just RM2,000.
Interestingly, though, the same person who won “FF9” also apparently won bids for two other hot numbers.
According to a screenshot circulated over social media, “FF9”, “FF99”, and “FF999” were allegedly won by the same person.
This perplexed even Ms Wong, who wondered if this was real or fake.
Source: @lovedevon99 on Instagram
Netizens estimated these three numbers would earn JPJ a total of RM1.5 million (S$445,000) in funds.
Curiously, the bidding deadline was also extended by 24 hours to 10pm on 19 May due to complaints over a service disruption towards the end of the process.
Mr Loke acknowledged over Facebook on 18 May that there were complaints from the public over the JBJ portal’s unstable system during the end of the bidding period due to high traffic.
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Featured image adapted from @lovedevon99 on Instagram and Instagram.
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