Six 'mat rempit' nabbed

BUTTERWORTH: Police arrested six ‘mat rempit’ (illegal motorcycle racers), including two teenagers, during an operation on street thugs along the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR) yesterday morning.

Seberang Perai Utara district police chief ACP Noorzainy Mohd Noor said police arrested the six, aged between 15 and 23, during the eight-hour operation, which began at 10pm.

“The six, including the two teenage school dropouts, tried to escape when they noticed the presence of plain-clothed police officers.

“But we managed to surround them and arrested all six, who are either self-employed or work in factories,” he said yesterday.

He said the six were not only racing illegally but even performed dangerous stunts, including zig-zagging and imitating ‘superman’.

Noorzainy said their action not only endangered their own lives but also that of other road users.

He said police would continue to conduct operations against street thugs and take proactive steps against mat rempit trying to turn the streets into illegal racing tracks.

“I also urge parents and guardians to advise their children not to be involved in illegal racing activities because they may be injured in accidents or even jeopardise their future if arrested,” he said.

He also urged the public to inform police of any street-gang activities or illegal racing in their bid to curtail such activities.