PENANG Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk A. Rajendran has issued a stern warning against operators of illegal electric scooters in the town.
Speaking to the media after the council meeting at Esplanade today, Rajendran said enforcement actions would be taken against those in violation of the ban on scooters.
“We view this seriously as the electric scooters have been prohibited in the town. The locals and the foreign tourists can opt for bicycles instead of electric scooters.
“There are currently a total of four licensed bicycle’ operators and five illegal electric scooters operators.
“In fact, we have confiscated 48 electric scooters since 2022 after the council imposed a total ban on them,” he emphasised.
Rajendran noted the illegal operators would operate their shops in the wee hours, posing risks to road users and pedestrians.
“As of Feb 16, we have seized 13 electric scooters for obstructing the pedestrians’ walkway, with further actions to be taken against the operators,” he added.
According to Rajendran, the council’s authority was limited, and they would collaborate with the police and the Road Transport Department (RTD) to carry out the necessary crackdown on illegal electric scooter operators.
On a separate matter, Rajendran disclosed that the cost of typhoid vaccination for the public would be raised from RM55 to RM75 for citizens and from RM85 to RM105 for non-citizens, effective July 1.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Alissala Thian