DBKL Struggles With Costly Process To Remove Abandoned vehicles On The Street

Photo: NST. Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) only recovers a small portion of the cost of removing abandoned cars from the streets—annual vehicle auctions bring in an average of RM300,000—despite spending millions of ringgit on this annual process, according to DBKL executive director (Socio-Economic Development) Ismadi Sakirin.

There are just 14 tow trucks available for DBKL to scrap abandoned cars. Sometimes, it takes a crane to lift cars out of confined areas where it is difficult and time-consuming to maneuver. They must wait for the next suitably sized lorry if the vehicle is too big to enter the area, Ismadi continued. To make matters worse, the procedure for disposing of the vehicles is lengthy, taking up to six months or more, beginning with a 14-day notice. After 14 days, the vehicle is towed to a depot, where the DBKL confirms its status with agencies such as the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and police.

Photo: The Star.
"This is often delayed further as some owners try to evade responsibility by relocating their vehicles. The notice is placed on the vehicle, giving the owner 14 days to remove it.

“However, some owners try to avoid the process by simply moving the vehicle elsewhere. This forces us to restart the process by issuing another notice,” he said. Apart from the streets, between 10% and 15% of the parking bays at Kuala Lumpur's government housing projects are occupied by abandoned cars. This situation has made the parking shortage even worse for the residents of these projects, as other cars are unable to use these bays. Nearly 2,000 notices have been served in the first half of this year alone, surpassing previous records and indicating an impending vehicle disposal crisis. Approximately 722 notices were sent to owners of abandoned vehicles in 2022, The star has reported. More than 1,600 abandoned cars were found in Kuala Lumpur's public housing projects, according to a recent StarMetro report. The abandoned cars were found in 64 PPRs and PAs, according to Minister Zaliha Mustafa of the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories). This is not shocking considering that 450,000 of Kuala Lumpur's 1.6 million residents, or 25% of the city's total population, reside in PPRs and PAs, according to data from the Statistics Department. Ismadi stated that car owners ought to be accountable for their abandoned vehicles. Whether it means fixing them, taking them apart, and selling the parts, they ought to take the initiative to find a solution.

Photo: The Star.
In order to minimize disruption and maintain the clarity and functionality of public areas, owners have to take prompt and responsible action as concerns about abandoned cars in public spaces are growing among city dwellers.

These cars, which are frequently abandoned in residential parking lots, beneath bridges, and by the sides of the road, are not only unsightly but also a source of traffic jams, parking shortages, and pest breeding grounds.