Drive to deregister abandoned vehicles
JPJ to simplify system to allow authorities to dispose of derelict machines
THE Road Transport Department (JPJ) is set to be empowered to deregister abandoned vehicles in the cities to have them disposed of.
The power is stated in the Road Transport Act (Amendment) 2018, which is expected to be passed today.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who tabled the Bill, said local councils had been powerless to remove the vehicles as they were still registered.
“We want to simplify the deregistration system so that local authorities can dispose of abandoned vehicles.
“This will help the city and local councils remove and dispose of abandoned vehicles, particularly those in housing areas, much faster,” he said at a press conference yesterday.
Loke said city council records showed that there were some 15,000 abandoned vehicles of various types.
He also said that nine councils – Ipoh, Alor Setar, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Penang, Johor Baru, Melaka, Kuala Terengganu and Iskandar Puteri – would be empowered to set up uniformed traffic warden units.
Presently, only Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Perbadanan Putrajaya are allowed to have traffic wardens.
Loke said that another amendment was empowering the Transport Minister to impose a fee for those seeking approval to tint their vehicles above the standard Visible Light Transmission (VLT) level.
The standard level of VLT is 70% for windscreen, 50% for front passenger windows and 30% for the rear passenger windows and rear screen.
“There is no automatic approval as they must be eligible first to use a darker tint and apply for it and pay a fee.
“Exemptions will be given to those who are required to use a darker tint due to medical conditions,” he added.