‘Forgot’ and ‘rarely used’ excuses won’t fly as Penang JPJ seizes RM14m worth of luxury cars

“BUKIT MERTAJAM, May 22 — The Penang Road Transport Department (JPJ) has seized 51 luxury vehicles worth RM14 million for various offences related to Motor Vehicle Licences (LKM), or road tax, through a special operation dubbed ‘Ops Luxury’ conducted across the state from early January until yesterday. State JPJ director Zulkifly Ismail said a total of 124 actions or offences were recorded against owners of luxury vehicles who failed to renew their respective road tax. “We also detected government revenue leakages amounting to RM175,236.92 due to the failure of vehicle owners to renew their LKM and insurance coverage. There was even a luxury BMW with an expired road tax since 2020, as well as a Jaguar since 2021. “The operation also detected a Ford Mustang that had not renewed its road tax since 2022, with the vehicle’s annual road tax estimated at RM10,900. These three vehicles are among those with high road tax rates,” he said at a press conference at the Penang JPJ headquarters here today. He added that the department also seized several other luxury vehicles, including Toyota Vellfire, Mercedes-Benz, Mini Cooper and Hyundai electric cars. Zulkifly said most of the vehicle owners gave excuses such as forgetting to renew their road tax or rarely using the vehicles, resulting in them deliberately choosing not to renew the road tax. He also revealed that some of the vehicles were owned by prominent businessmen, including individuals holding the titles Datuk and Datuk Seri, but declined to comment further on the identities of those involved. He said that from June to Dec 31 last year, Penang JPJ also seized 73 luxury vehicles, with estimated government revenue leakages amounting to RM88,000 due to failure to renew road tax. “None of the vehicles seized this time belonged to owners who had previously faced similar action last year, and we will continue conducting such operations from time to time to detect vehicles that do not comply with the stipulated regulations,” he said. — Bernama

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