KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26: The Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) will be amended to expand the scope of enforcement areas of Local Authorities (PBT) to manage the issue of abandoned vehicles in strata housing areas.
Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said the proposed amendment was made since PBTs do not have the power to take action in private strata areas unless there is an official application or cooperation from the Joint Management Body (JMB) and the Management Corporation (MC).
She said the improvements are being finalised through a comprehensive engagement process with the Ministry of Transport, Road Transport Department (JPJ), Royal Malaysia Police, Department of Environment, state governments and PBTs.
“We are looking at the proposed amendment to certain provisions in Act 333 to expand the enforcement powers to all categories of local authorities and the scope of areas that can be enforced.
“JMB and MC are fully subject to the Strata Management Act 2013 and the Strata Management (Management and Maintenance) Regulations 2015. They have full authority and legal responsibility to manage and regulate jointly owned areas including vehicle issues,” she said during a question and answer session at Dewan Rakyat, today when replying to a question by Azli Yusof (PH-Shah Alam). Azli wanted to know the ministry’s steps to enact by-laws to enable local authorities to take action on abandoned vehicles in strata residential areas.
Apart from the proposed amendment to the act, Aiman Athirah said other steps included the use of Section 65 of Act 333 as an additional instrument to enable the disposal of vehicles without going through the court as disposal previously had to go through the lengthy court process.
“In addition, the creation of a voluntary vehicle disposal mechanism through the e-Dereg system developed by JPJ in March 2025 allows owners to dispose of their old vehicles as a faster and more user-friendly alternative,” she said.
— BERNAMA