(War on the menace of civilised society, Mat Rempit is on-going – Image source: Perak Today)
I think internally there is a competition among the politicians in this country to come up with the wildest ideas. And the latest one that has hit the headlines is the one that deals with allowing pesky Mat Rempits aka public nuisance to race on public streets.
Road safety experts expressed regret and disbelief over a proposal to legalise ‘Mat Rempit‘ racing. The experts who spoke to theSun, raised grave concerns on whether the government would take responsibility should bodily injury or loss of lives occur during such races.
Their concerns come in the wake of a proposal earlier this week by Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor to allow bikers to race in certain parts of the capital city to curb the tendency of “Mat Rempits” who speed in residential and commercial areas.
Universiti Sains Malaysia deputy vice-chancellor Professor Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah described the proposal as risky and a disservice to road safety.
(Source)
And such stupid proposal have even it left the police in disbelief with the Minister’s ambitions (if you remember the police had declared war on Mat Rempits calling them the cancer of the society?):-
Inspector-General Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar wants to meet Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor over the plan to close certain city roads and allow motorcyclists to race.
“I believe he has his reasons to propose it. I want to meet him to discuss it,” Khalid told reporters at the Bukit Aman police headquarters here.
“I will meet him first to see what his views are,” he said when asked to comment further on the matter.
(Source)
And not content with leaving the nuisance in West Malaysia, there were even plans to bring over the nuisance to East Malaysia, spreading more of this sickness there:-
The plan to provide motorcycle racing tracks in the city is still on the table, with the possibility of extending the proposal to East Malaysia as well.
Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said that the matter was among the issues discussed at a meeting with other Federal Territories Members of Parliament (MPs) at the ministry today.
“I have discussed the ‘Mat Motor’ issues, and I want to solve the matter at hand,” he said, adding that he is looking for a way to provide space to allow motorcycle racers to do what they are interested in.
He said the move would also help tackle syndicates involved in illegal betting who use “Mat Rempits” for their own financial gains.
(Source)
And the insurance companies were quick to wash their hands off of the proposed plan by the Minister:-
Meanwhile, Persatuan Insurans Am Malaysia (PIAM) said motorcycle insurance policy does not cover activities as racing and it is an exclusion under the policy.
PIAM said any such activity is done at the rider’s own risk and if they injure a third party or damage another person’s property, they will be personally responsible for any damage costs.
“In the event an Insurer (Insurance Company) is held liable to pay by virtue of the provisions under Section 96 of the Road Transport Act, the insurer can seek indemnity from the motorcycle owner and/or rider,” it said.
(Source)
At the end of the day, everyone is against the idea of allowing Mat Rempits running loose on public roads – all except the Honourable Minister. What the police need to do is this – agree to the Minister’s idea and when the Mat Rempits shows up with their bikes, round them up like rounding up some cattle and charge them on endangering other road users.