Mat Rempit

Mat Rempit menace: Pain and shame tactic from RTD
By : Fadhal A. Ghani and Minderjeet Kaur

The authorities are seeking more stringent punishment to tackle the Mat Rempit menace.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Road Transport Department wants the power to arrest Mat Rempit who have struck fear in the hearts of Malaysians with their recent involvement in snatch thefts.
It is also seeking to change the law to cane the illegal racers whose actions have also led to the eventual death of victims.

But such punishment is not all that the department, which has been dogged for years by Mat Rempit, wants. It is also proposing that vehicles belonging to Mat Rempit be seized and considered scrap.

The department and the police also agree that another effective way of fighting the speed demons is to shame them. The RTD is proposing that they be ordered to pick up dog poo and scrape chewing gum off public roads.

Also on the cards are proposals to make snatch thieves clear clogged drains, decorate community centres and look after the terminally ill.
Some police top brass want Mat Rempit involved in snatch thefts to wear T-shirts with the words: "I am a snatch thief."

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat is expected to decide on the proposals on Friday.

Peninsular Road Transport Officers Union president Hamzah Masri said RTD enforcement officers needed the power to arrest Mat Rempit if efforts to eradicate the menace were to succeed.

"The government should give our enforcement officers the power to arrest Mat Rempit and owners of vehicles used in the illegal activity," he said. This may include parents who have been known to have allowed children to use their motorcycles in illegal races.

Hamzah said only the police had the power at the moment to arrest traffic offenders.

He said the RTD only had the power to issue summonses to vehicle owners who illegally modified vehicles.

"Having two agencies with similar powers in this regard is better than just being able to arrest Mat Rempit."

Hamzah suggested that Mat Rempit, including illegal car racers, be given heavier punishment including caning.

He said that while Mat Rempit were issued summonses and got off with a maximum fine of RM300, they would learn a lesson if they were jailed and if fines were increased.

He also added that if motorcycles were seized, Mat Rempit would not be able to race.

"Malaysians would also be rid of Mat Rempit who are mainly involved in snatch thefts these days."

Federal CID director Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin said shaming Mat Rempit may work wonders in bringing some sense to them.

"The existing law which provides for snatch thieves to be sent to jail for up to three years does not seem to have much effect on them. The only way is to shame them," he said.

He also wants them to wear T-shirts that read: "I am a snatch thief." He is also suggesting that snatch thieves perform community service in the area where the crime was committed.

"This will allow the affected community to see the person with the T-shirt doing community service."

The police also want snatch thieves to pick up the medical bill of victims.

"They should pay double the bill and compensation for losses."

Bakri said these measures would be a way of making Mat Rempit who were also snatch thieves "pay for their crimes".

At present, snatch thieves are not required to pay medical bills of victims or compensation for losses.

According to Federal Traffic Police director Datuk Abdul Aziz Yusof about 630 Mat Rempit were arrested two years ago with the number going up to to 1,156 last year. The majority of those caught were aged between 16 and 20 years.