KUALA LUMPUR: Rows of cars left for months, and even years, along roadsides and in housing areas are not only an eyesore but have also become a persistent problem for residents, prompting calls for firm action by local authorities.
Three local authorities in the Klang Valley recorded a total of 27,117 abandoned vehicles, based on records covering different periods from 2021 to August this year.
Kajang Municipal Council recorded the highest number at 12,290 vehicles, followed by Kuala Lumpur City Hall with 11,001 complaints and Ampang Jaya Municipal Council with 3,826 vehicles.
Vehicles left for too long not only take up parking spaces and obstruct road users but could also pose safety risks and affect the cleanliness of their surroundings.
Abandoned vehicles can pollute soil and water through oil leaks and become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and pests.
Local authorities face difficulties removing abandoned vehicles due to problems tracing owners, inaccurate registration details and lengthy verification and disposal processes.
High repair costs and vehicles that are no longer economical to use are among the factors driving owners to abandon them.
This raises questions about the effectiveness of efforts to tackle the problem more comprehensively.
Kajang Municipal Council recorded 12,290 abandoned vehicles of various types, with the figure showing an upward trend from 2021 to August this year.
Over the past three years, the council received 3,351 complaints related to abandoned vehicles: 1,016 in 2024, 1,216 last year and 1,119 this year.
A council spokesman said Cheras subdistrict recorded the highest number of complaints of abandoned vehicles, particularly in housing areas and around car workshops, with old cars being the most commonly abandoned vehicles.
"Among the factors identified are damaged vehicles, high vehicle repair costs, owning more than one vehicle and vehicles sold without a change of ownership.
"The council will conduct an on-site investigation within 14 days of receiving a complaint, and a warning notice will be affixed to the vehicle.
"Owners are given 14 days to remove the vehicle before towing action is taken," the spokesman said in a written statement to Harian Metro.
According to the council, 2,605 vehicles have been towed, while another 9,685 cases remain unresolved.
The spokesman said the council's main challenges included vehicle owners who had changed addresses, missing vehicle registration numbers and original owners who had sold vehicles without transferring ownership to the new owners.
"Kajang Municipal Council does not bear any towing costs for abandoned vehicles, as it appoints the Car Medic panel to tow vehicles whose notice period has expired, in the presence of enforcement officers," he said.
He said abandoned vehicles also obstructed traffic and visibility, increasing the risk of accidents.
The spokesman said leaking oil and other fluids from abandoned vehicles could pollute soil and water, affect cleanliness and tarnish the area's image.
"The vehicles also have the potential to become breeding grounds for disease vectors and nesting places for pests, as well as depriving the public of parking bays," the spokesman said.
To address the problem, the council will appoint contractors to facilitate towing. It will also raise awareness among vehicle owners and publicise information on assistance with vehicle disposal.
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