Many reasons behind neglected vehicles

Osman said some of the abandoned vehicles were burnt or involved in accidents. - Filepic

STOLEN cars, complications in insurance claims and failure to pay loan instalments are some of the reasons behind abandoned vehicles in Kuala Lumpur. 

This is a common sight in residential areas and commercial blocks in the city.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) enforcement department senior deputy director Osman Ismail said many cars were abandoned near car workshops because the owners could not afford to pay for the repairs.

“Some did not expect the high price while others encounter problems in obtaining replacement car parts as some models are obsolete,” he said.

Osman Ismail

When the enforcement officers asked the mechanics at the nearby workshops, they would claim to not know anything about the cars.

“We will get to know the reasons when the owners collect the cars at our depots,” he said.

He said the enforcement team received public complaints especially if the cars were taking up parking lots.

“In 2015, we received 898 complaints and in 2016 we received 1,200.

“From January to June this year, we received 476 complaints.

“It reduced this year because of our increased operations to tow the cars away.

“The increase in 2016 was because of lack of storage space, but since we started conducting auctions, there is more space now,” he said.

Osman said some of the abandoned vehicles were burnt or involved in accidents.

“Some owners waited for the insurance claims but it did not go through or they were still waiting.

“This is why we give the owners seven to 14 days allowance before towing the car as they may have a valid reason,” he said, adding that some vehicles were categorised as “Beyond Economic Repair” which meant a total loss.

Owners also leave their vehicles when they default on their monthly payments for car loans while some left their vehicles at the depots for a long time because they are afraid to pay the compound, he said.

“For motorcycles, cars, buses and other vehicles, we charge a compound of RM100 and a detention fee of RM10 per day,” he said, adding that towing charges were RM50 for motorcycles and RM100 for cars and RM250 for buses and other larger vehicles.