NETIZENS have taken to social media to express their scepticism about the amendment of the Road Transport Act 1987 which will see the imposition of heavier penalties on illegal motorcycle racers – or ‘mat rempit’ – in an effort to combat such activities which are dangerous to other motorcyclists and other road users.
Transport Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Isham Ishak said on Tuesday (Aug 9) that the amendment involves Section 42 of the Road Transport Act 1987 on higher fines, prison terms and seizure of workshops that modify mat rempit motorcycles for illegal racing.
Through the amendment to the Act, he said those who are found to be racing illegally will now be fined RM300, but perhaps the summons will be increased to RM5,000 or RM10,000 to prevent such illegal racing activities.
Spectators watching by the roadside and the parents of underage racers will also not be spared, said Isham.
However, netizens were far from being convinced, with many believing that the amendment to the law will not deter illegal racers due to poor enforcement.
“I still believe law amendment won’t deter the kids, teens, parents and mat rempit because enforcement in #Negaraku [is] so longlai, so lembik (weak),” tweeted user @shahrimtamrin.
“We need to scrutinise the root of the cause. We must address the root of the cause.”
Meanwhile, Facebook user Daniel Wong opined that illegal motorcycle racers should be put in jail, fined and have their motorcycles confiscated.
“Don’t waste time talking about education,” he advised.
Similarly, Facebook user Chia Man Fat, in calling out the Government for dragging its feet, pointed out that it is not difficult to curb this issue.
“Stop all shops that sell parts to modify their bikes and [introduce] harsher punishments such as a RM50,000 to RM100,000 fine [and] five to 10 years imprisonment. I think they will think twice [before being] a mat rempit,” he noted.
“Peer pressure my foot”
Bernama also reported on last Saturday (Aug 6) that peer pressure is among the reasons that youths take part in illegal racing activities, as found by Seri Alam police deputy chief Mohd Roslan Mohd Tahir through a three-year research he had conducted on illegal racing.
A total of 300 mat rempit between 16 and 27 years from Johor Bahru, Seri Alam, Kulai, Skudai and Iskandar Puteri were approached and interviewed, according to the report.
Roslan said all this while, everyone has been pointing fingers, looking for someone to blame, with some even blaming the Government, family and society for the problem.
He said that through the research, it was found that it is not the fault of the government, the enforcement or the family because they got involved at their own will, and 90% is due to peer pressure.
“Talk is easy. Thousands of experts have given their opinion on the subject since the 1970s. But yet the number [of mat rempit] has only increased to this day,” said Facebook user Rosdzni Karim.
Meanwhile, user @Hazim_Azami, in calling the research stupid, said that youths become mat rempit because they want to earn side income.
Similarly, user @TwoSpd sarcastically tweeted, “Oh yes, peer pressure. Poor fellows, they were forced into becoming mat rempit. Awesome research, blame everyone else.” – Aug 10, 2022
Photo credit: The Star
