Motorist surrounded by several 'Mat Rempit' saved by patrol car

27 October 2006 : The Straits Times

MARANG, FRI.:

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Prompt arrival of the police saved a motorist who found himself surrounded by several 'Mat Rempit' after a minor accident here yesterday.

When the illegal racers noticed the patrol car, some of them got onto their motorcycles and sped off. However, one of them who decided to flee on foot was caught.

The 20-year-old 'Mat Rempit' was arrested after putting up a struggle.

District Police Chief, Deputy Superintendant Abdul Rahim Md Din, said the suspect will be charged soon.

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Mat Rempits ganging up upon a motorist! Is that what you would like to see happen to yourself or to someone you love? To be surrounded and intimidated by a group of thugs? What if the authorities are not around to help? Would death be the final outcome of the confrontation?

Send Mat Rempits to jail, says public

28th October 2006 : Article from The Malay Mail

Yesterday, The Malay Mail went to the streets to gauge the public’s opinion on the best way to punish these errant motor- cyclists.

They said heftier fines will not stop these reckless daredevils from hogging the streets and endangering other road-users.

A jail sentence, they felt, might be a better option as being behind bars will surely be a bitter experience for them.

The Cabinet recently instructed the Transport Ministry to review the existing law and submit a proposal to curb the me na c e.

The proposal will include heftier fines, confiscating racers’ vehicle and suspension of their license but will these help? Here are the public’s views: l Jenny Foo, 24, marketing executive, D a m a n s a ra : “The Government should enforce jail term for these errant bikers because they are a danger to other road users.

“Increasing the fines alone will not curb the problem as some of these ‘Mat Rempit’ come from well-off families.” l Vanessa Lim, 20, student, Brick- fi e l d s : “Heftier fines are not enough. A com- bination of community service and fine will be ideal. This would give them a platform to serve the public and to repent.

“Most of the illegal racers are young and they deserve a chance to change.” l C. S. Chong, 22, advertising student, S e re m b a n : “Nothing will change by doubling the fines. Imprisonment will be much better.

“A short time behind bars has a higher possibility of making them repent.” l Vikkraman, 27, Government officer, S e re m b a n : “These illegal racers will not repent if they are only made to pay a higher fine.

“Community service or a short jail term might be a better way to curb the menace.

Learning it the hard way is always the best.” l Nikki Soraya, 19, student, Subang J a ya : “It ’s good that the Government is finally drawing a line for ‘Mat Rempit’.

“Even the police can’t control them. I’ve seen these illegal racers blazing their way past cops many times before.

“I think the only thing that might stop them is a jail term.” l Everlyn Giam, 22, mass communic- ations student, Sunway: “Thumbs up to our Deputy Prime Minister for making the suggestion.

“However, fines and penalties will not solve the problem.

“They should also be made to attend an awareness workshop.” l Lee Jin Fai, 20, student, Damansara J a ya : “Their road antics endangers other mo- torists but a higher fine should be good enough to deter them from illegal racing.”

SULTAN's Brush With MAT REMPIT

Friday, 27th October 2006 : Article from The Star

KUALA LIPIS: The Mat Rempit phenomenon has irked many Malaysians and now it has annoyed Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang.

He recently had an unforgettable close encounter with this menace of society.

Relating his experience, the Sultan said he almost hit two Mat Rempit when they were racing near his palace in Pekan on Tuesday night.

“It was really a close shave as both motorcycles had no lights on. I had to drive my vehicle onto the road shoulder to avoid them,” he told reporters after visiting several accident-prone spots along the Kuala Lipis-Merapoh road here yesterday.

He said he had been driving a four-wheel-drive back to his palace from the Royal Mausoleum at 10pm.

The Sultan said the Mat Rempit were not only endangering their lives but also that of others and hoped the authorities would do something to stop the menace.

Sultan Ahmad Shah also visited victims of a car and bus accident at the Kuala Lipis Hospital here. The accident occurred on the Kuala Lipis-Merapoh road early yesterday morning.

It claimed the life of the car driver, Mohd Farid Abdullah, a 27-year-old corporal from the Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Labuan.

Referring to the 80km accident-prone stretch of the Kuala Lipis-Merapoh road, he said the Government had allocated RM80mil to upgrade it under the 9th Malaysia Plan.

The Sultan, who drove on the road to experience the conditions here, said some stretches of the winding and undulating road were dangerous. – Bernama

5,600 summons on 2,000 'mat rempit' issued in Kota Baru this year

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 : Article from The Star

KOTA BARU: Police here slapped 5,600 summons on some 2,000 “mat rempit” since the start of this year while 1,429 motorcycles were also seized on suspicion of illegal modifications.

This showed that Kelantan police were vigilent on clamping down on illegal races, State CPO SAC (I) Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah said.

Responding to claims from certain quarters that police here were slow to react to “mat rempit” activities, SAC (I) Zulkifli said the arrest records speaks for itself.

He said a total of 120 operations were also conducted since Jan to round up suspected “mat rempit” who terrorise other road users with reckless speeding or racing.

Most of juveniles nabbed under such operations saw that their parents were alerted by the police and the adults were adviced that their children must be constantly monitored, he said.

SAC (I) Zulkifli said this at the launching of the state-level “Ops Sikap XI” for the coming festive period.

Present was state road safety council chairman Mej (B) Anizam Ab Rahman and Kota Baru Lions Club chairman N. Subramaniam.

A total of 240 traffic policemen will be deployed to manage the flow of 1.5million vehicles expected to use the trunk roads here.

In addition, 40 General Operations Force personnel have been called up to assist the traffic police.

Mej (B) Anizam who is also a state executive councillor, urged motorists to observe the new speed limit of 80km per hour when entering Kelantan.

During the 2005 “Adil Fitri”, a total of seven fatal accidents were recorded and he hoped that this year it would be zero.

He also praised the police for installing speed humps at strategic locations in the state to deter “mat rempit” activities.

Good idea to seize machines of illegal racers

Monday, October 16, 2006 : Article from The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet’s decision to come up with harsher penalties for illegal street racers has received the thumbs-up from various parties.

Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said it was high time that the law was amended to hit the Mat Rempit where it hurts most – by seizing their precious machines.

“We could see a sudden drop in illegal racing cases if the proposed amendment to the law is implemented and enforced.

“We may even be able to eradicate the menace,” he told reporters in Alor Star.

Radzi said the law should not go easy on the Mat Rempit as their irresponsible acts put other people’s lives in danger.

Federal police traffic chief Senior Asst Comm (II) Nooryah Md Anvar said: “We have been waiting for such a decision since the Mat Rempit are not obeying the law.”

“We need to make these Mat Rempit realise their mistake because they have taken away many innocent lives,” she added.

MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong said the Cabinet decision was one that no one should object to.

He believed that the Cabinet had also taken the families of victims into consideration before making the decision.

Putera Umno chief Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim said he supported the proposal “101%”.

“I am the chief of Putera Umno, which comes under the ruling party. And so I always back the Government’s decision.

“Besides, the existence of Putera Umno is not to become the organiser of illegal racing. Rather, we want to change their negative attitude and put them back on the proper track,” he said.

He added that Putera Umno was working closely with the Youth and Sports Ministry to provide a platform for the Mat Rempit to race legally at a circuit.

Government planning stiffer penalties to stop Mat Rempit menace

Monday, October 16, 2006 : Article from The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Stiffer penalties await Mat Rempit.

Their motorcycles would be confiscated and their licences suspended. Action would also be taken against the organisers of the illegal races.

These are some amendments to the laws that the Government is looking at to overcome the problem.

“This is a clear signal that the Government is serious in overcoming the problem of illegal racing,” Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told reporters after launching a road safety campaign.

He said there was a proposal by some quarters to impose mandatory jail terms for illegal racing but the Cabinet felt that the punishment was to heavy.

“What should be done is to tighten the law by confiscating motorcycles, suspending licences, imposing heavier penalty and taking action against organisers of illegal races,” he said.

Najib likened road users who flout the law as “thieves.”

“If they think they can ‘steal’ and escape from enforcement, they will do it. They don't realise that they are actually affecting the whole system.”

He expressed disappointment over the 6,000-odd road fatalities each year despite the Government’s efforts to reduce road accidents.

“This is unacceptable. If we multiply 6,000 with 10 years, we get 60,000, which is comparable to a population of a small town. It would be great if we can reduce the number.”

Najib said he told enforcement officers from the police and Road Transport Department to issue summonses on the spot to road users who flout the law during the festive seasons.

“Don’t give them a chance! Just issue the summons and don’t allow them to accumulate arrears.

“Don’t practice discretionary power because that will create other problems,” he said.

Major Crackdown On Mat Rempit during this festive season

Friday, October 13 2006 : Article from Besonline.rtm.net.my

Kuala Lumpur - The traffic police will launch a major crackdown o­n "mat rempit" or illegal racers after the Deepavali and Hari Raya celebrations.

After the Deepavali and Aidilfitri celebrations, more traffic policemen would be deployed to ensure that they stay off the road.

The major operation would be jointly conducted with Road Transport Department (RTD) and other enforcement agencies.

Law Enforcement, Parents' Role To Address 'Mat Rempit' Problem

October 13, 2006 : Article from Bernama.com

JITRA, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- The Transport Ministry is looking at a two-pronged approach in addressing the problem of illegal motorcycle racing -- law enforcement and parents' role.

Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said Friday that while enforcement authorities from the police and Road Transport Department continued with efforts to curb such activities, it was important that parents, too, played their role.

"Some parents, despite knowing that their children don't have a driving licence, don't stop them from riding motorbikes...this is pathetic.

"I appeal to parents to cooperate with the government by paying serious attention to their children's activities," he told reporters after the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina Pei Min, costing RM1.2 million, in Padang Sera near here.

On a proposal to confiscate motorbikes used in illegal racing, Chan said the matter had to be studied as it would involve amending the law.

-- BERNAMA

Mat Rempit ride to other states

Thursday October 12, 2006 : Article from The Star

KOTA BARU: With the police stepping up enforcement against them, Mat Rempit are moving their activities out of the Klang Valley.

The illegal motorcycle racers are now meeting in neighbouring states, and some even in rural spots, to escape the long arm of the law, Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum said.

ARMY OF BIKERS: File picture taken last month of Mat Rempit gathering at a petrol station along Jalan Semantan in Kuala Lumpur in the early hours.

“However, they will still have to deal with the police, as a nationwide operation has been launched to clamp down on illegal racing and related social ills,” he said on Tuesday after breaking fast with the police personnel at their quarters in Kemunin here.

Johari reiterated that the ministry was serious about a proposal to seize the vehicles of Mat Rempit, and a study was being done to determine if this could be legislated.

The ministry, he added, was also looking into making parents accountable for the actions of their children who were Mat Rempit as other countries were enacting similar laws.

“Such legislation will create awareness among the people that they must play a role in curtailing social ills and not leave it solely to the Government,” he said.

He also confirmed that the ministry was looking into placing daun ketum juice under the Dangerous Drugs Act rather than the Poisons Act.

A growing number of youths, he noted, had been mixing daun ketum with terrapin blood and other substances to obtain a highly potent drink.

“The ministry needs to move with the changing trends in crime,” he said.

On a recent report in a Malay tabloid that Mat Rempit had been taking a concoction called air berani (fearless water), Johari said he had never heard of the drink.

According to the report, the potion – a mixture of tuak (palm wine) and terrapin blood normally taken before a race – makes Mat Rempit daring when performing their stunts.

“If there is such a potion, it is unhealthy and forbidden (under Islam),” Johari told reporters yesterday after presenting Hari Raya gifts to former policemen and widows of policemen who had died in service, Bernama reports.

Rebranding Of 'Mat Rempit' On The Cards

20th August 2006 : Article from Bernama.com

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- Illegal motorcycle riders or "Mat Rempit" will be rebranded by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at an assembly in the Bukit Jalil National Stadium this November, says Putera Umno Chairman Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim.

He said the rebranding of Mat Rempit was to change the illegal race participants' image towards something better, and "we are thinking of a suitable name like Mat Cemerlang (Excellent Mat)."

"We are finding a proper direction for them. We could not stop them to continue with their interests but we can guide them to find a direction," he told reporters after officiating the Malaysian Pengasih Association's Eighth General Meeting here Sunday.

Abdul Azeez said they should not be perceived as a threat, adding that, "If we cannot stop them, we join them. We try to understand them because they are our youths."

At the three-day assembly starting from this Nov 12, several competitions would be held for the Mat Rempit with prizes including a Satria Neo and a motorcycle.

Abdul Azeez said several things that could be learnt from these illegal riders were their strong camaraderie and a large membership of at least 5,000 riders despite being an unregistered club.

"Due to this strong bond, 30 Mat Rempit will beat us if we cause trouble with its members," he added.

He said Putera Umno did not want the bond to be inclined towards negative elements but wanted to drive the youths away from drugs and encouraged them to pursue their studies.

He said for an example, a representative from a Honda motorcycle and car dealer was impressed with the riding skills of these Mat Rempit.

The representative was also amazed with the engineering skills of the Mat Rempit, boosting the speed of their motorcycles to 180 kilometres per hour considering that the company's engineers were having difficulties to achieve a speed of 120 kilometres per hour.

He said these Mat Rempit could actually be assets in building Malaysia if they were given the chance.

Abdul Azeez said this Aug 26, he and Umno Youth Vice Chief Khairy Jamaluddin would come down to the ground on their motorcycles to meet the Mat Rempit.

--BERNAMA

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