Abandoning Vehicle - A Malaysian Right

They were once a mode of transportation, now transformed into habitats for plants, a rubbish bin for passers-by and worst of all a breeding sites for mosquitoes. As the problem of abandoned vehicles widely persists in the capital city’s commercial and residential zones, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) can only take action within the boundaries of legislation while the community waits for it to be nipped in the bud.

Discarded vehicles were found mostly in secluded parts of commercial and residential areas, while some were even left at DBKL’s parking spots.Residents and business owners expressed frustration over abandoned cars hogging parking spaces, being an eyesore and unhygienic because it also a breeding ground for rats and mosquitoes.

It occupies parking spaces meant for the residents and it is also an eyesore. Abandoned cars would become a breeding spot for mosquitoes. Cars and a van were abandoned, were not moved for three years and the window of the van has been shattered, allowing passers-by to throw rubbish inside.

The apartment does not have parking space for its tenants and these cars have taken valuable parking bays outside the apartment.

Residents and business owners expressed frustration over abandoned cars hogging parking spaces, being an eyesore and unhygienic because it also a breeding ground for rats and mosquitoes.

“If the owners do not want them, why don’t they just sell the car or sell for scrap metal?” he added.

Some vehicles were missing its number plates and tyres, while some that were abandoned for a long time were covered with leaves. Stickers bearing contact information of buyers who were interested to buy the abandoned cars were also seen pasted on the window.

Meanwhile, broken down, flat-tired and grubby vehicles ranging from luxury cars to the common kap chai motorcycles were seen discarded in Bangsar, including Kampung Kerinchi and Bangsar South.A check at Jalan Pantai Permai, Pantai Dalam, within the vicinity of Kampung Kerinchi showed public parking spots used as car sales lots, with names and contact numbers tacked onto a number of vehicles for sale.