Penang: The Penang Road Transport Department (JPJ) has seized 51 luxury vehicles worth RM14 million for various offences related to Motor Vehicle Licences (LKM), or road tax, through a special operation dubbed 'Ops Luxury' conducted across the state from early January until yesterday. State JPJ director Zulkifly Ismail reported that the operation recorded 124 actions or offences against owners of luxury vehicles who failed to renew their respective road tax.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the operation uncovered government revenue leakages amounting to RM175,236.92 due to the failure of vehicle owners to renew their LKM and insurance coverage. Among the vehicles seized were a luxury BMW with an expired road tax since 2020, a Jaguar since 2021, and a Ford Mustang that had not renewed its road tax since 2022, which has an estimated annual road tax of RM10,900.

The department also seized several other luxury vehicles, including Toyota Vellfire, Mercedes-Benz, Mini Cooper, and Hyundai electric cars. Zulkifly noted that many vehicle owners provided excuses such as forgetting to renew their road tax or rarely using the vehicles, leading them to deliberately choose not to renew it.

He further disclosed that some of the vehicles were owned by prominent businessmen, including individuals with the titles Datuk and Datuk Seri, though he refrained from commenting on their identities. From June to December 31 last year, Penang JPJ also seized 73 luxury vehicles, with estimated government revenue leakages amounting to RM88,000 due to failure to renew road tax.

Zulkifly confirmed that none of the vehicles seized this time belonged to owners who had previously faced similar action last year. He emphasized that the department will continue conducting such operations periodically to ensure compliance with the stipulated regulations.