MPAJ clears abandoned cars in crackdown

THIRTEEN abandoned vehicles were removed from Bandar Baru Ampang commercial area in Ampang, Selangor, during an enforcement operation by the local council.

The operation by Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) saw 146 compounds issued for traffic offences, while 33 business premises were inspected.

Of the premises checked, 15 were issued compounds for various offences and seven seizures were executed, MPAJ said in a media statement.

The enforcement exercise came amid concerns over the high concentration of motor vehicle workshops in commercial areas in Ampang Jaya, including Bandar Baru Ampang, Pandan Jaya and Taman Cahaya.

StarMetro report on June 29.

MPAJ said enforcement operations would continue, to ensure commercial areas remained orderly, safe and conducive for businesses and road users.

Meanwhile, MPAJ Zone 8 councillor Datuk Yap Wee Seng urged the council to carry out regular compliance checks in the area to ensure commercial operators adhered to licensing conditions.

“Only with regular enforcement can we ensure operators comply with the rules.

“Damaged and abandoned vehicles left outside business premises create significant inconvenience for other business owners and the public,” he said.

Yap also urged MPAJ’s Licensing Department to take sterner action against repeat offenders.

“If an operator has committed offences more than four times, issuing compounds is no longer sufficient.

“We need a more long-term solution to this problem.”

Yap added that he would continue liaising with the local council on the matter.

StarMetro previously reported that MPAJ was aware of workshop hotspots within its jurisdiction.

In a June 29 report titled “Auto business boom bothers Ampang Jaya folk”, residents raised concerns over parking shortages, traffic congestion and workshop-related activities spilling into public spaces.

In response, MPAJ said under Ampang Jaya Local Plan 2035 (Replacement), motor vehicle service activities were limited to 20% of the total number of shoplots in a commercial area, although licences issued before the policy was introduced remained valid.

MPAJ also said workshop operators, car wash centres and vehicle accessory shops were required to rent two to three designated parking bays directly in front of their shops.

The municipal council said enforcement action, including compounds or licence cancellation, could be taken against operators who failed to comply with licensing conditions.

It added that vehicles left unattended in public bays for prolonged periods would be towed.