JPJ seizes 37 vehicles with extreme modifications, including RM150,000 exhausts, in Ops Ekstrem

In Ops Ekstrem, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) confiscated 37 cars that had been heavily modified, including modifications such as air suspension systems, during a nationwide operation. The department's director-general, Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli, stated that the seized vehicles will be held pending legal action against their owners and that the vehicles will be returned to their original state.

The operation, conducted early Sunday morning across Kuala Lumpur, particularly along Jalan Raja Laut, examined 156 vehicles, with 97 of them being penalized for various violations. Some cars had undergone extensive modifications, with their bodies lowered to almost ground level and some owners spending up to RM150,000 on exhaust modifications that produced flames.

Ramli emphasized that roads are not meant for showcasing extreme vehicle modifications that disrupt public order and endanger other road users. At a press conference, he issued 485 notices for various infractions, with the most common being non-compliance with registration specifications (97), expired Motor Vehicle Licences (66), lack of insurance (57), tinted windows (44), and vehicle modifications (11), with exhaust-related offenses accounting for 77 cases.

The popularity of air suspension systems, costing between RM15,000 and RM25,000, has risen among individuals in their 20s and 30s, who initially imported them from Borneo. JPJ plans to expand the operation nationwide starting this week, referring such modifications to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) to prevent the entry of illicit components and take action against unregistered workshops.