Modified exhausts in capital blamed for public disturbance and safety risks

THE roar of illegally modified exhaust systems reverberating between the capital’s high-rise buildings has been identified as a key source of public disturbance and a potential threat to road safety, according to city traffic police.

Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa, head of the Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department, said the structural landscape of the city centre intensified the impact of excessive engine noise.

“These modified exhausts produce excessively loud noise. We must understand that in Kuala Lumpur there are many tall buildings.

“So, when vehicles are driven at high speed, the sound reverberates and becomes a problem for the public,” he said.

He was speaking after overseeing an integrated operation held in conjunction with Op Selamat 25 for the 2026 Chinese New Year, which was conducted from 10pm until 4am at several locations around the capital.

The two-phase operation targeted vehicles and motorcycles suspected of involvement in illegal street racing and unlawful modifications.

About 70 motorcycles were seized for various offences, including altered registration numbers, the use of noisy exhaust systems and drug-related offences involving three cannabis cases and one methamphetamine case.

“In addition, around 40 modified cars were also seized, mostly for using exhaust systems that did not comply with specifications,” he said.

Police also issued approximately 720 summonses for a range of offences, including unauthorised vehicle modifications, defective brakes and non-compliant registration plates.

Zamzuri urged drivers and motorcyclists to comply fully with the Road Transport Act and all traffic regulations to safeguard their own safety and that of others.

“We want everyone to be alert and responsible on the roads so that accidents can be avoided and everyone reaches their destination safely,” he said.

Authorities said enforcement efforts would continue in a bid to curb illegal modifications and reckless behaviour, particularly during festive periods when traffic volume increases significantly. - February 15, 2026