MBPP Turns to Special Crane to Remove Abandoned Vehicles in Penang

GEORGE TOWN, Sept 14 — The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is utilizing a specialized Multi-Purpose Loader with Crane to lift and remove abandoned or tyreless vehicles obstructing public parking spaces across the city.

MBPP Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said the machinery, acquired in 2022, was specifically intended to facilitate the removal of end-of-life vehicles that cannot be safely moved using conventional tow trucks.

“This equipment is primarily used for abandoned or end-of-life vehicles that are impractical to tow using conventional tow trucks, such as vehicles without tyres or those parked in a condition that makes it difficult for tow trucks to access and remove them safely,” Rajendran said.

The specialized machinery recently gained widespread attention on social media after a 3-minute-28-second video went viral showing the vehicle lifting a car from a parking bay onto its platform before transporting it away, drawing positive public feedback for MBPP’s enforcement efforts.

However, Rajendran clarified that the loader is not routinely deployed for standard illegal parking or traffic obstruction cases, as MBPP maintains a separate fleet of enforcement vehicles for routine towing operations. He added that the equipment can also be repurposed for other municipal tasks requiring the movement of heavy objects, including concrete barriers.

–NMT