Sunday, October 29, 2006

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

27 October 2006 : The Straits Times

MARANG, FRI.:


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?


Saturday, October 28, 2006

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