Party on the streets
Mat Rempit out in full force, and reckless as usual, during public holidays
Mat Rempit were out in full force during the extended weekend, when traffic on highways around cities was light.
PETALING JAYA: The long weekend plus the additional public holiday today gave hundreds of youths across the country plenty of opportunity to gather and showcase their “rempit skills”.
In Kajang, adrenaline-fuelled daredevils took advantage of the mostly empty streets to zoom down the Grand Saga Highway, performing reckless stunts.
The group of Mat Rempit convened at an area on the highway near the Bukit Dukung R&R stop at about 1am yesterday and was seen having a few practice runs.
About 20 minutes later, the riders started their dangerous stunts.
Some zoomed by while lying flat on the seat of their machines for a stunt known as the “superman” while others attempted wheelies by lifting the front of their bikes as they rode.
The highway was not completely empty, there were lorries and other vehicles.
However, this did not stop the Mat Rempit from roaring down the lanes at full throttle, some even doing stunts without proper safety gear. Occasionally, the riders would take a break, parking by the side of the highway to watch their peers.
They would leave their engines on and rev the throttle as if to cheer on the others.
Police are trying their best to deal with these street stuntmen who seem to have a huge appetite for risk.
Bukit Aman’s road traffic control secretariat assistant director Deputy Supt Dr Bakri Zainal Abidin said these daredevils generally use weekends or public holidays for such dangerous activities.
“So far, up to August, 85 people have been arrested in 27 operations nationwide,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kajang OCPD Asst Comm Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yusoff said his team conducted weekly operations to catch offenders at three of their favourite spots – the Grand Saga, Lekas and Silk Highways.
“As of August, we have issued 1,541 summonses to these riders for various offences,” he said.
ACP Ahmad Dzaffir’s team also arrested 35 people for riding under the influence of drugs and drug possession. They also impounded 125 illegally-modified motorcycles.
He said police also conducted joint operations with the National Anti-Drug Agency, Road Transport Department and local councils as part of an effort to stamp out the illegal activity.
In Melaka, the state government called for stiffer penalties for street racing, which tarnished the tourism industry and endangered other motorists.
Transport, Project Rehabilitation and International Trade Committee chairman Datuk Lim Ban Hong said the problem of such racers turning the streets of Melaka into illegal circuits was recently discussed in the Road Safety Council steering committee meeting, which called for tough measures.
“They think they are invincible and even intimidate road users who honk at them during their races.
“We need to curb this dangerous act. The impact could be catastrophic at such speeds,” he said yesterday.
Lim noted that the menace was not confined to Mat Rempit but even cars modified to racer specifications, leading to noise pollution.
He identified Cheng, Peringgit and Klebang roads within the city as the top spots for illegal racing.
“Motorists are afraid to use stretches full of these illegal racers after midnight on weekends,” he said.
A check by The Star on Friday and Saturday nights showed that such activities were widespread, including at Jasin and Ayer Keroh.
Racers would zoom and weave through traffic at high speeds, causing anxiety to motorists late at night during holiday periods.