BY: NORHAYATI UMOR
PETALING JAYA, OCT 12: The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is now actively carrying-out an operation to remove abandoned vehicles in Petaling Jaya area.
The Corporate Communication Unit Media Secretariat said in a statement that the operation is to curb the spread of aedes mosquitoes, to address the problem of blocked parking lots as well as to prevent other inconveniences to the community.
He said, the operation is carried out by the Enforcement Department and the Engineering Department and is scheduled everyday targeting hot-spots.
Among areas targeted are PJS1-10, SS2, SS3, SS7, SS9A, SS20, S21, SS22, SS24, BU6, BU11, PJU10, PJU1A, PJU7, PJS1, SD 1, SD5, SD 9, SD12, Seksyen 6 Kota Damansara and Seksyen 11 Kota Damansara.
“MBPJ has identified that among reasons owners abandon their vehicles is the inability to bear high repair costs.
“These vehicles are usually either stolen, have loan settlement issues with the bank or are accident vehicles with claim issues with insurance companies.
“Some vehicles are also left in workshops due to difficulties in finding spare-parts or the parts are too expensive,” he said.
For the record, so far MBPJ have towed 699 vehicles while 573 vehicles were removed by their owners. Meanwhile, in 2015, 370 vehicles were towed by MBPJ and 387 were removed by owners.
As of September 2016, 292 abandoned vehicles have been disposed while another 220 are in the disposal process.
“These towed vehicles are brought to the MBPJ storage depot at Seksyen 26, Shah Alam with a size of 117,612 km sq or equivalent to 2.7 acres.
“The total number of vehicles in the depot currently is 748. It can only contain up to 750 at any one time,” he said.
MBPJ has given a one-month notice to vehicle owners based on data provided by the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
At the same time, MBPJ has also sent a letter to the Police to check if these vehicles are involved in any Police cases.
“If there are no claims made by the owners, MBPJ will forfeit the vehicles before the disposal process.
“The owners will be fined RM250, towing cost of RM250 as well as other costs of RM100,” he said.
Following that, MBPJ has called on all residents to report on any abandoned vehicles in Petaling Jaya area.
Meanwhile, for everyone’s convenience, workshop owners are reminded to adhere to the law and not block any parking lots.
For the record, this operation has been in place since 2014 to address the above mentioned issues.
Actions have been taken according to the provision in the
the Road, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133) Section 46 (1) (e) on placing or the cause of placing wooden items, scrap iron, abandoned cars or any part thereof, waste materials or objects or other items in any public place.
The provision in the Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171) Section 101 (1) (v) states to do all things necessary for public’s safety, health and convenience.
MBPJ actively removing abandoned vehicles
