BUTTERWORTH: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) impounded 73 luxury vehicles worth more than RM10mil under Ops Luxury conducted throughout last year for offences involving expired road tax and invalid insurance.
State JPJ director Zulkifly Ismail said BMW vehicles topped the list with 23 units seized.
Other high-end makes and models impounded during the operation included Porsche Taycan, Rolls-Royce, Mini Cooper and Lotus Eletre S.
He said the offences resulted in losses of government revenue amounting to RM146,204, with Rolls-Royce vehicles recording the highest annual road tax of RM54,000 which was not paid.
“Throughout last year, various brands of vehicles were impounded during the operation, including some belonging to dignitaries, businessmen and individuals with the title Datuk.
“In some cases, owners failed to renew their road tax and insurance for periods ranging from two to five years.
“They offered various excuses, with the most common being forgetfulness and business downturns that led to financial difficulties,” he told reporters following the integrated operation on commercial vehicles at the Sungai Dua Toll Plaza on Wednesday night, Bernama reported.
The operation, which was conducted from 8pm to midnight, involved 120 personnel from various agencies, including the Department of Environment, police, National Anti-Drugs Agency and Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
Zulkifly said a total of 153,000 vehicles across various categories were inspected last year, with enforcement action taken against 58,147 vehicles with 121,526 offences detected.
He said the most common offence continued to be driving without a valid licence, followed by vehicles without valid road tax and lacking insurance coverage.
“For public transport vehicles, JPJ detected 230 cases involving express and tour buses operating without a second driver during the same period, which is a serious violation.”
He added that another offence involved bus passengers failing to wear seat belts, with 313 cases recorded.
