KUALA LUMPUR: Luxury vehicles belonging to a former national football player and a motivational speaker were among 1,814 vehicles impounded by the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
The seizures were part of a nationwide special operation on luxury vehicles known as Ops Luxury.
Road Transport Department deputy director-general (planning and operations) Datuk Jazmanie Shafawi said 915 vehicles, including supercars, had been seized this year.
Another 899 vehicles were impounded last year for offences such as failing to renew road tax or motor vehicle licences.
Jazmanie said the former footballer's vehicle was seized early Sunday (May 24) morning following three specific offences.
These included the absence of insurance coverage, an expired road tax, and a driving licence that had been expired since December last year.
"For the past five months, the former footballer had still failed to obtain insurance coverage and a valid road tax for the vehicle," Jazmanie said at a press conference Sunday night.
The motivational speaker's vehicle, estimated to be worth more than RM500,000, was seized on the Damansara-Puchong Expressway.
Authorities found the road tax had expired nearly a month earlier and the vehicle had no insurance coverage.
It was also still displaying an old registration number despite having undergone an interchange.
Jazmanie stressed that failing to renew road tax is a serious offence under the Road Transport Act 1987.
He added that the department would not compromise on issuing compounds or confiscating involved vehicles.
"The usual excuse given by owners is that they overlooked the renewal, but that is unreasonable," he said.
He noted that the MyJPJ application issues reminder notifications when a vehicle's licence is about to expire.
Jazmanie added that using a vehicle without a valid road tax poses a significant risk as it is not covered by insurance in the event of an accident.
Also present at the press conference was JPJ senior enforcement director Datuk Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan. - Bernama
