Vanity plate series for Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) launched in 2015 to mark its status as an APEX university and to fund academic projects. USM, based in Penang, had USM 1-9999 available. The series had strong support from the Penang Chinese community (Penang being USM’s home state), with many viewing it as a prestige symbol. USM 1 and USM 1969 (USM’s founding year) were notable numbers; USM 1 likely went to a prominent figure or remained with the university. Funds from sales went into research grants and student scholarships. As Penang’s traffic includes many USM staff and graduates, USM plates became a familiar sight locally. They transfer like normal plates, and a few even made it to other states – perhaps on the cars of alumni who moved away. With nearly 10k numbers, USM’s plate program was one of the larger ones, but as a top-tier school, interest matched supply. The series encapsulated USM’s ethos of excellence and community support, with each plate subtly broadcasting a connection to one of Malaysia’s premier universities. Key Facts: Issue Date: 2015 Issuance Range: 1 - 9999 Rarity: Limited (9,999 plates, popular among alumni) Transfer Rules: Standard