The Pahang Government is still awaiting approval from the Road Transport Department (RTD) for VIP registration numbers to be given in conjunction with Visit Pahang Year 2017 (TMP2017).

State tourism and culture committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin said sale of the registration numbers could not be carried out until it was gazetted by the authorities.

"Once it has been gazetted, we will start the bidding. Whoever bids the highest, will get the number. The proceeds of the sales will be used to promote TMP2017," he told the Pahang State Assembly at Wisma Sri Pahang here today.

Mohd Sharkar was replying to a question from Lee Chean Chung (PKR-Semambu) who wanted to know the current status on the application for the registration numbers.

On the quantum of revenue which could be earned from the sale of the numbers, Mohd Sharkar said it would only be known once they had been sold by Dec 31, next year.

"This is the government's initiative to generate income to make TMP2017 a success by minimising the use of public funds, and we are fortunate to have thought of this way of supporting TMP2017," he said.

He added the federal government would also help promote TMP2017 at Tourism Malaysia offices overseas while the Malaysian National Film Development Corporation would help produce a video which would be shown soon.

Replying to a question from Datuk Mohamed Arifin Awang (BN-Chenor), on behalf of Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Mohd Sharkar said to date, Felcra Berhad Pahang had developed 923,694 hectares of land in Lipis for rubber plantation, and in Rompin and Kuantan for oil palm plantation. --Bernama