[1] Many Malaysians were no doubt shocked to learn that over 6,000 luxury vehicles owners – owners of Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, Porsches, Ferraris and Lamborghinis – had not paid their road tax, some for many years. Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who announced this recently, indicated that collectively, these tax evaders owe the government over RM35 million in unpaid road tax.[1]
[2] What many will find even more shocking is the response of the minister to this scandalous situation. Instead of immediately throwing the book at every last one of these irresponsible tax evaders and law-breakers and imposing the maximum penalty allowed by law, the minister merely “urged” them to fulfill their obligation to renew their road tax.” And this after bravely declaring that “no one is above the law”!
[3] And it’s not just road tax apparently; many do not even have auto insurance. Indeed, uninsured vehicles is yet another hidden scandal. According to the Vehicle Theft and Accident Reduction Council of Malaysia, tens of thousands of vehicles are likely operating without insurance. Is the minister going to merely “encourage” them to insure their vehicles too or actually do something about it?
[4] The JPJ database should provide all the information the minister needs to identify and prosecute all delinquent vehicle owners. It is shocking that the minister has been so lax about this significant non-compliance with the law. As minister of transport, doesn’t he owe a responsibility to the public to ensure compliance with the law as well as the safety of road users?
[5] The minister’s shameful response speaks to the deeply rooted culture of impunity that has taken root in this nation. The rich and powerful can get away with almost anything while ordinary citizens have to bear the full brunt of the law. There is no equality under law.
[6] Just recently, an unemployed woman who stole food for her ailing mother was fined RM1000 and sentenced to two days jail.[2] And yet, those who are rich enough to own a Rolls-Royce (prices range from RM1.8 million to RM6 million) are merely “encouraged” to obey the law! The minister even had the audacity to add that he did not wish to shame these individuals publicly.
[7] Why the great reluctance to go after all these luxury car owners who have broken the law? Is it because the minister knows that they are all politically connected and protected and is too afraid to confront them? How many times have we seen motorcycle and small car owners being pulled aside for infringing the law but of course you never see a Rolls Royce being pulled over because enforcement officers are too scared to confront luxury car owners with fancy number plates. By his very actions, the minister makes a mockery of his own statement that no one is above the law.
[8] But this is the thing about this Madani government. It talks big about going after corrupt elites but mollycoddles them at every turn. It promises to go after corrupt politicians and cronies but gives them DNAAs and NFAs. It throws the book at a policeman who accepts an RM800 bribe[3] but cannot bring itself to prosecute corrupt pro-government politicians who have been accused of accepting bribes worth millions of ringgit. It promises targeted subsidies for the poor but gives subsidized fuel even to wealthy elites. It insists that no one is above the law but refuses to act against superrich delinquents who don’t pay their taxes.
[Dennis Ignatius |Kuala Lumpur | 26 September 2025]
[1] Loke: Top figures among luxury car owners owing RM35.7 million in road tax |The Vibes |24 Sept 2025
[2] Woman jailed two days, fined RM1,000 for stealing food and essentials for ailing mother |The Vibes |19 Sep 2025
[3] Two policemen jailed and fined for accepting RM800 bribe in Khalwat case |The Sun |22 Sept 2025
Dennis Ignatius 
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