‘ABANDONED VEHICLES AN EYE SORE’
TWO open spaces, each about the size of a badminton court, in front of low-cost flats in Jalan Cecawi 6/6, Kota Damansara in Petaling Jaya, Selangor have been turned into a graveyard for old vehicles.
It is also used as a makeshift car park by those staying at the nearby Palma Puteri and Palma Perak apartments.
Checks by the New Straits Times revealed that 13 damaged vehicles had been left to rust by the roadside.
Five of the vehicles were abandoned on both sides of Jalan Cecawi 6/6. Two were left along Jalan Cecawi 6/6b, which leads to a dead end.
Area residents have complained that the abandoned vehicles are an eye sore and could become breeding grounds for dengue mosquitos, and attract rats and snakes.
Suhaimi Yahya, who stays nearby, said most of the vehicles had been there for three to five years.
“The local authorities need to take action against the owners and get them to remove the vehicles,” he said.
“Some of the vehicles already have overgrown grass and shrubs around them, and fallen leaves piled up on top of them.
“Rainwater collects in the vehicles that are badly damaged. This creates perfect breeding grounds for mosquitos, rats and snakes.”
Amin Mokhtar, another resident, fears that many more people may abandon unwanted vehicles in the area if the local authorities did not act soon.
“We do not want our neighbourhood to be turned into a dumping ground for damaged or stolen vehicles,” he said.
“Action should be taken immediately against those responsible.”
ACTIONLINE:
Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) corporate communications deputy director Abdul Hakim Khairuddin said the council could not simply tow away abandoned vehicles.
He said MBPJ’s standard operating procedure required it to issue a notice to ask owners to remove their vehicles and a compound of RM300, which would be attached to the vehicles.
“MBPJ can only tow away an abandoned vehicle when the owner does not remove it after a notice and compound are issued.
“Many people may not be aware of the procedures to properly dispose of their vehicles, while other may face difficulties in fulfilling the requirements,” he said.
“There are several privatelyowned registered vehicle disposal centres in the district.
“Someone who wants to dispose of his vehicle at a registered centre is required to first relinquish the vehicle at the Road Transport Department and provide the vehicle grant or ownership certificate.”
Hakim said DBKL had towed away 1,063 abandoned vehicles last year.
He said some were stolen vehicles, while other had been damaged in traffic accidents or were entangled in issues such as outstanding bank loans and insurance claim issues.