BUTTERWORTH: A total of 51 luxury vehicles worth about RM14mil have been seized in Penang this year for failing to renew their Motor Vehicle Licence (LKM) or road tax, says the state Road Transport Department (JPJ).
Its Penang director Zulkifly Ismail said the seizures were carried out under Ops Luxury conducted statewide from Jan 1 to Thursday (May 21).
He said the offences resulted in government revenue losses amounting to about RM175,000 over unpaid road tax.
"One car had not renewed its road tax since 2020, while another's expired in 2021," he said here on Friday (May 22).
Zulkifly said one owner had already been blacklisted but took advantage of his status by not renewing the vehicle’s road tax.
He added that the operations this year resulted in 137 notices and actions issued for various offences.
He said one car with unpaid road tax over almost four years had the highest outstanding amount, RM10,900, among the seized vehicles.
Zulkifly said most of the vehicles involved were believed to belong to VIPs, including businessmen and high-profile individuals.
He said the common excuses given included forgetting to renew the road tax or claiming that the vehicles were rarely used.
"Such excuses cannot be accepted because every vehicle on the road must possess a valid LKM," he stressed.
Zulkifly said Ops Luxury has been conducted in Penang since June last year.
He added that from June 1 to Dec 31 last year, JPJ seized 73 luxury vehicles, involving about RM88,000 in lost government revenue over unpaid road tax.
