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

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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