KUALA LUMPUR: Local authorities will now find it easy to remove abandoned vehicles within townships and cities nationwide following amendments to the Transport Act 1987.
The Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2018 was passed in a unanimous vote after being debated by six lawmakers at the Dewan Rakyat today.
The amendment in question is to Section 66 (nn) of the Act which empowers the Transport Minister to set a specific and detailed procedure in regards to the cancellation of the registration numbers of abandoned vehicles for a reasonable purpose.
According to a copy of the Bill, cancellation of the abandoned vehicles’ registration numbers is important as not doing so would leave the numbers in the Road Transport Department’s (RTD) despite the vehicles being physically disposed.
“In order to improve the process of cancelling vehicle registration, the amendment seeks to explain the provision that empowers the Minister to set a procedure for cancelling the registration of the vehicle for any reasonable purpose.
“This procedure would also be utilized by the RTD as well as any other authorised parties (including local authorities).”
Previously, Section 66 (nn) merely stated that the minister can make rules to regulate the deregistration of motor vehicles that are not worthy of repair due to serious accidents, old age or other causes, or where the chassis number thereof has been tampered with.
It was previously reported that the there are 60,000 abandoned vehicles in townships and cities nationwide.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook reportedly said yesterday that the amendment to the Act would enable local councils to remove abandoned vehicles within their jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, among the amendments was also to Section 66 (pp) of the Act, in order to empower the Minister to set a fee on the approval of type of vehicle and the process of recalling vehicles with defects in its construction or components.
Another amendment was to Section 66 (ss) that empowers the Minister to set the regulation and impose fees on the use of glass or transparent material installed on motorised vehicles.
In the Dewan Rakyat today, Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar said that the Bill was vital to realise the government’s aim to increase road safety and improve management and enforcement of traffic, especially within cities.
“It is clear that everyone (lawmakers) have shown support for the Bill to improve transport management, especially regarding the power given to the Minister in carrying out the powers of the ministry, as well as the local authorities in managing vehicles within their respective jurisdiction.
“This also involves the Minister’s power to impose fee that does not burden the people but instead give additional revenue to the government via the Bill,” he said.
