PETALING JAYA: One was a cherished link to childhood, another was meant to be a gift for a son, while the third simply became too expensive to repair.
But all three vehicles eventually disappeared from their owners’ lives without being formally deregistered.
Technician Abdul Rahman Abdullah, 55, bought a battered classic car about 25 years ago because it was the same model that his father had driven.
“I bought it to reminisce about the past but when repair bills ran into thousands of ringgit, I could no longer afford it,” he said.
“My mechanic left it parked nearby, where it deteriorated badly before I sold it for a few hundred ringgit for spare parts.”
Retiree Richard Albert, 65, kept his first car for nearly 25 years, hoping to restore it and pass it on to his son.
“But my son left to study abroad and after the battery died, I left the car parked opposite my house for the next decade,” he said.
The car’s upholstery and paintwork deteriorated from prolonged exposure to the elements before Albert sold it for RM500 three years ago.
“All kinds of insects and rats had turned the car into their home over the years,” he said.
Delivery rider Azman Mohd Azam, 35, left his car idle after its engine seized, intending to save enough for a replacement.
But other commitments took priority and the car remained unattended for over five years.
“Some parts were cannibalised by thieves. One day, the whole car just went missing. I thought the local council had towed it away, but checks showed that was not the case.
“To this day, I have no idea where it is. I did not bother lodging a police report as the car was already in bad shape,” he said.
All three owners admitted receiving notices from their local councils to remove the vehicles but failed to deregister them, unaware that doing so was required.
