Drove An Alphard With Expired Road Tax — And A Businessman Thinks JPJ Is The Problem

A Malaysian Chinese businessman found himself in hot water after going on Facebook to defend the owner of a luxury SUV that was seized by JPJ for expired road tax — while children were in the car.

In Brief

Businessman Datuk Tony Looi faced public backlash after defending an Alphard owner whose vehicle was seized for expired road tax.
Commenters highlighted that expired road tax likely means no insurance, leaving any accident victims without compensation.

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A Malaysian Chinese businessman found himself on the receiving end of public criticism after defending the owner of a luxury SUV whose vehicle was impounded for expired road tax.

Datuk Tony Looi took to Facebook to express displeasure after the Road Transport Department (JPJ) seized a Toyota Alphard in Kedah during an enforcement operation.

The vehicle had been stopped while the driver was ferrying children home from school.

JPJ officers, acting under Section 64(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, issued notices and impounded the vehicle after discovering the road tax had lapsed.

Looi argued that a fine would have been sufficient and questioned the decision to seize a vehicle being used to transport children.

“What about next time — forget to renew your licence and go to jail?” he wrote, suggesting the enforcement was excessive.

The post did not go over well.

If Something Happens, Who Pays?

Commenters were quick to point out that road tax renewal is now available online and takes minutes to complete.

“It’s really just a five-minute thing — go online, and it’s done,” one user wrote.

Others raised a more serious concern: in Malaysia, an expired road tax typically means the motor insurance has also expired.

Some people noted that the driver had been ferrying children in an uninsured vehicle — meaning any accident would have left victims with no avenue for compensation.

“Expired road tax, no insurance, and you’re still carrying children — if something happens, who pays?” one commenter wrote.

Others noted the apparent contradiction of owning a Toyota Alphard, a luxury SUV that retails well above RM300,000, while allowing road tax to lapse.

It is hardly an isolated case — JPJ has previously impounded expensive vehicles, including luxury cars and high-end SUVs, whose owners had similarly let their road tax expire. The enforcement, it seems, does not discriminate by price tag.

@media.telus JPJ RAMPAS ALPHARD SAYA DEPAN ANAK KECIL WALAUPUN KERETA SAYA DAH HABIS BAYAR Puncanya? Sebab roadtax mati. Masa tu saya terus merayu siap call agen insurans depan pegawai tu untuk hidupkan roadtax serta-merta. Saya mohon disaman saja, sebab memang nak renew terus on the spot. Khilaf saya betul2 terlupa. Tapi rayuan saya langsung tak dilayan. Anak saya menangis dalam kereta, saya jelaskan itu kereta arwah suami, risau urusan nak tebus nanti jadi rumit. Pegawai cuma jawab: “Kalau dah hidupkan roadtax, bawa geran boleh ambil balik.” Tapi akhirnya kereta tetap juga disita. Sedihnya, masa tu Alphard penuh dengan barang niaga. Itu hari pertama saya nak buka booth di Pasar Dinda, staff dah tunggu di tapak niaga. Semua perancangan habis musnah. Sekarang, roadtax dah ada. Kereta tu pun dah habis bayar (payoff), bukan hutang bank lagi. Tapi JPJ tetap tak lepaskan sebab alasan SOP katanya saya tiada dokumen sah sebagai pentadbir harta arwah. Soalnya, SOP ni langsung tak bertimbang rasa ke? Ini bukan kereta penjenayah. Bukan kereta dadah. Ini kereta keluarga, kereta arwah suami yang saya gunakan untuk hantar 4 orang anak kecil ke sekolah, untuk berniaga, untuk urusan hidup seharian. Saya memang betul-betul tertekan. Hidup makin susah tanpa kenderaan utama. Jpj Pahang, tolong bertimbang rasalah. ke semua pegawai hanya tahu ikut SOP membuta tuli macam robot? Saya berdoa yang susahkan urusan saya nak ambil balik hak saya n anak2 dgn alasan SOP ni semoga anak isteri dia rasa balik satu masa nanti apa yang saya rasa. Kredit: Dblanche Shop #jpj #kereta #tarik #pahang #roadtax ♬ original sound – Media Telus