ILLEGAL motorcycle racers – or mat rempit – could face heavier penalties with a proposed amendment to the Road Transport Act 1987, as authorities seek to combat the menace that endangers the lives of other road users.

Transport Ministry (MOT) secretary-general Isham Ishak said 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.

“The MOT has held discussions with several government agencies, including Bukit Aman, the Road Transport Department (RTD) and the Malaysian Road Safety Research Institute to deal with the problem of mat rempit, which is becoming more prevalent now.

“As for the short-term measures, RTD and the police will continue operations at illegal racing hotspots using some new strategies,” he said at a press conference in George Town today.

Also present were Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Mat Kasim Karim and Penang police chief Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.

Isham said that as a long-term measure, the ministry will amend the Act, and this is expected to be tabled in the first session of the Dewan Rakyat next year to give police and RTD the power to enforce the legislation more comprehensively.

He said through the amendment, those found to be racing illegally are now fined RM300, but perhaps the quantum will be increased to RM5,000 or RM10,000 to prevent such illegal racing activities.

He said local authorities may also be empowered to confiscate and revoke the licence of workshops that modify motorcycles for illegal racing activities through the proposed amendment.

“In addition, those who are involved in illegal racing will also face prison terms – parents of teenagers under 18 years of age who are found to be involved in illegal racing activities, along with supporters and spectators.

“We have amended the law related to drunk drivers before and the heavier penalties seem to be having an effect, so we hope this amendment (mat rempit) will also be successful,” he said.

In an incident in the early morning of July 17, five men died and two motorcyclists were seriously injured after an accident involving several motorcycles and two cars on the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.

On a related matter, Isham said Penang will be the model for a pilot project using cameras to record the actions of illegal racers or mat rempit for action to be taken before it is implemented nationwide.

He said authorities will use cameras to record before taking action by detaining them at their homes or workplaces.

“Previously, police and RTD members would be in the field to ‘ambush’ those involved in such activities, but the method was seen as dangerous to law enforcement officers and those in nearby locations.

‘’So we take a defensive approach, which is to use cameras to see and obtain pictures of the mat rempit involved. After that, police will arrest them either at home or at their workplace,’’ he said.

Isham said the approach is one of the new ways taken by the authorities to combat the mat rempit menace and at the same time ensuring the safety of other road users.

According to police statistics, from January to June this year, 1,096 street patrols were conducted across the country and a total of 1,451 offenders were arrested, with 21,258 summonses issued. A total of 2,200 vehicles were confiscated. – Bernama, August 9, 2022.