111 motorcycles abandoned as police crack down on illegal racing
KOTA KINABALU: Illegal motorcycle racers or popularly known as Mat Rempit fled and abandoned their machines as police cracked down on illegal racing at Jalan UMS here during the weekend.
One hundred and eleven motorcycles were abandoned by their owners during the operation dubbed “Ops Samseng Jalanan” from 9pm on Saturday to 5.30am the next day.
Kota Kinabalu police chief Asst Comm Mohd Zaidi Abdullah said the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department also detained two riders for performing dangerous stunts.
“The suspects were aged 18 and 21. One was found without a licence to ride motorcycles,” he said on Monday.
“A 19-year-old rider was held for having a fake number registration plate on his motorcycle, on top of not having a licence,” he added.
ACP Mohd Zaidi said 108 of the 111 motorcycles were impounded under Section 64(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for the purpose of identifying the owners.
He said two motorcycles were impounded for investigation under Section 81(3) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for illegal racing, while the remaining motorcycle was seized under Section 108(3)(f) of the Road Transport Act for having a fake number plate.
Summonses would be issued to the riders or owners of the 108 motorcycles when they claim the vehicle at city police headquarters, he said.
“At the same time, a check on 168 motorcyclists and their pillion riders saw 21 K257 summonses (given on the spot) issued,” he said.
ACP Mohd Zaidi said such operations would be held from time to time to ensure that all road users, including motorcyclists, abide by traffic rules.
Meanwhile, two men were injured in two separate incidents near Beluran and Tuaran on Monday.
In the first incident, a 45-yearold man was injured after a Toyota Hilux skidded and overturned along Jalan Simpang Kampung Buis Kiabau.
The Fire and Rescue Department received a distress call at 10.11am, and rushed a team to the scene, 80 kilometres away from the Beluran Fire and Rescue Station.
“The team extracted the man who was trapped inside the vehicle using special equipment, and he was sent to Telupid Hospital in an ambulance.
In the second incident, a 40year-old man was slightly injured after a ten-tonne lorry veered into a 50-metre ravine along Jambatan Gayang.
The victim was taken out of the vehicle by members of the public before the rescuers arrived.
An EMRS team provided early treatment to the man before sending him to Tuaran Hospital.