G57 challenges DBKK authority to auction towed vehicles

The Gerakan Kuasa Rakyat Malaysia (G57) has challenged the legal authority of the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) regarding its policy to forfeit and auction towed vehicles that remain unclaimed after 30 days.

G57 Chairman Datuk Zulkarnain Mahdar raised concerns that this practice may violate the rights of financial institutions under the Hire Purchase Act 1967, as many towed vehicles are still under active bank financing. He questioned which municipal ordinance allows a Mayor to bypass the rights of banks to forfeit ownership within such a short timeframe.

In response to the controversy, DBKK Mayor Datuk Seri Sabin Samitah stated that 1,385 vehicles have been towed since April, with 52 having undergone the forfeiture process. While G57 does not defend illegal parking, the group has urged DBKK to adopt more practical enforcement methods, such as using wheel clamps instead of immediate towing, and to review the legality of the 30-day forfeiture rule.