Penang JPJ Impounds 73 Luxury Vehicles Worth RM10 Million Last Year

BUTTERWORTH, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- The Penang Road Transport Department (JPJ) impounded 73 luxury vehicles worth more than RM10 million under Op Luxury conducted throughout last year, for offences involving expired road tax (LKM) and lack of valid insurance.

State JPJ director Zulkifly Ismail said BMW vehicles topped the list with 23 units seized. Other high-end brands impounded during the operation included Porsche Taycan, Rolls-Royce, Mini Cooper and the Lotus Eletre S.

According to him, the offences resulted in losses of government revenue amounting to RM146,204, with Rolls-Royce vehicles recording the highest annual road tax of RM54,000, which had not been paid.

“Throughout last year, various brands of vehicles were impounded during the operation, including some belonging to dignitaries, businessmen and individuals with the title ‘Datuk’. In some cases, owners failed to renew their road tax and insurance for periods ranging from two to five years.

“They offered various excuses, with the most common being forgetfulness and business downturns that led to financial difficulties,” he told reporters at a press conference following the integrated operation on commercial vehicles at the Sungai Dua Toll Plaza southbound last night.

The operation, which was conducted from 8 pm to 12 midnight, involved 120 personnel from various agencies, including the Department of Environment, the Royal Malaysia Police, the National Anti-Drugs Agency and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

Meanwhile, Zulkifly said a total of 153,000 vehicles across various categories were inspected last year, with enforcement action taken against 58,147 vehicles and 121,526 offences detected.

He said the most common offence continued to be driving without a valid licence, followed by vehicles without valid road tax and those lacking insurance coverage.

“For public transport vehicles, JPJ detected 230 cases involving express and tour buses operating without a second driver during the same period, which is a serious violation that could compromise passenger safety.

“Bus operators cited cost-cutting as the reason for deploying only one driver, despite regulations requiring a second driver for long-distance journeys exceeding 300 kilometres. There were also cases where bus drivers did not possess a vocational driving licence (PSV), with operators claiming they wanted to pay lower wages,” he said.

He added that another offence detected involved bus passengers failing to wear seat belts, with 313 cases recorded. Passengers commonly gave outdated excuses, such as forgetting to buckle up.

-- BERNAMA