My Miscellaneous Page

Mat Rempit cause death of elderly woman

Rubber tapper Siti Muriam Awang Hamat, who was riding pillion, died of head and body injuries. Her husband, 68-year-old Che Jusoh Che Lah, has been warded in Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital with head and body injuries.

A 23-year-old member of the motorcycle gang was thrown off his bike and has been warded at the Pasir Mas Hospital, also with head and body injuries.

The incident comes barely a month after a three-year-old boy crossing the street in front of the Muhammady state mosque in Kota Baru was knocked down by a speeding Mat Rempit.

The couple’s son, Mohd Satar, 43, said his parents were returning to their home in Kampung Banggol Che Dol after visiting Siti Muriam’s mother in Kampung Banggol Setol.

"My father said he was trying to make a right turn across the road. He spotted a group of five young bikers idling their machines not far from the junction.

"Thinking it was safe, my father started to turn into the opposite lane. But suddenly the youths revved up their bikes and sped towards my parents. One of the motorcyclists collided with them," Mohd Satar said.

He said he rushed to the scene when he was told of the accident, but "there was nothing we could do for my mother".

"My family has accepted the incident as fate. But what these Mat Rempit did is cruel and can never be forgiven," said the labourer.

Siti Muriam, who has 11 grandchildren, was buried in the village cemetery yesterday morning.

Police said the hospitalised man would be arrested once investigations are completed.

The Star, Tuesday October 31, 2006

Mat Rempit beat up executive

A GANG of Mat Rempit attacked a company director who had stopped at a traffic light junction, Harian Metro reported. 

The daily said the victim, who was alone in his luxury car, had stopped at a traffic light at Jalan Maarof, Bangsar, at 4am on Saturday and was suddenly surrounded by 20 Mat Rempit. 

Quoting police sources, the daily said the youths broke the car windows with their helmets, dragged the man out, beat him and forced him to hand over his wallet and hand phone. 

Brickfields Deputy OCPD Supt Arjunaidi Mohd confirmed the incident but declined to elaborate, the daily said. 

In a Berita Harian report, Cuepacs and the Chief Secretary to the Government had denied allegations that public servants would be fired or transferred to the interior regions if they criticised the Government. 

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan told the daily that he had not heard of any case where action was meted out against civil servants as claimed by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. 

Dr Mahathir had claimed that the country was now experiencing a climate of fear, as those who questioned or criticised the Prime Minister would face action, including being fired and threatened by the police. 

In refuting the allegations, Cuepacs president Omar Osman told the daily that they too had not received any complaints, or any official circulars ordering them not to criticise the current administration or barring them from attending Dr Mahathir’s talks. 

“We are of the opinion that government servants can make criticisms as long as these are constructive,'’ he told the daily. 

Some 242,195 or 3.8% of the 6.3 million students nationwide have dropped out of school and failed to complete Form Five, Utusan Malaysia reported. 

The daily also said that of the 437,896 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) school-leavers, 28% were clueless about their future after failing to continue their education at a higher level. 

The numbers were based on a report entitled Blue Print Modal Insan, which was submitted to the National Implementation Directorate (NID) meeting in June.  

The directorate is headed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.  

NID executive director Datuk Dr Sulaiman Mahbob said the difference in the education quality and facilities between urban and rural areas was responsible for them dropping out.  

The Star, Friday September 1, 2006

Police rescue man from being beaten up

IPOH: A contract worker had his lucky stars to thank when he was saved by police from being bashed up by a group of Mat Rempits, on Merdeka Day. 

In the incident, which occurred at about 5am at Jalan Sultan Abdul Jalil here, the victim had grazed one of the Mat Rempit’s motorcycles causing the machine, with its rider and pillion rider, to fall. 

Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Jalaludin Ibrahim said a big group then gathered around the victim, in his 20s, to demand compensation. 

“The victim was dragged by the group to a nearby bank’s automated teller machine to withdraw money. 

“However, as the ATM machine was closed, the angry assailant hit the victim on his forehead with a helmet, causing him minor injuries,” he told a news conference here on Friday. 

ACP Jalaludin added that a team of policemen, who were on their crime prevention rounds, stumbled upon the commotion and managed to prevent the situation from getting worse. 

“A total of 15 people, three of them college students, were picked up,” he added, noting that the illegal racers had been remanded for three days until Saturday. 

To a question, ACP Jalaludin said the racers tested negative for drugs in their urine. 

He also said the racers would be charged with rioting and gang robbery. 

On another matter, ACP Jalaludin said police were looking for two men in their 30s to assist with investigations into the robbery of three Oriental Daily journalists at their office at Jalan Onn Jaafar here on Aug 25. 

Those with information on the men should contact the nearest police station, he added. 

In the 5.45pm incident, two men, one of them armed with a Rambo knife, had robbed the journalists of their cash and valuables. 

A female crime reporter also suffered minor injuries when she was punched by one of the robbers.

The Star, Thursday September 14, 2006

Mat Rempit ‘untameable’

The attempt of Putera Umno to “tame” the 8,000 or so Mat and Minah Rempit was marred over the weekend when some of them misbehaved and purportedly indulged in vice, fights and brought shame to a mosque. 

Harian Metro reported that some Minah Rempit wore revealing clothes in the mosque compound and at the Muslim graveyard when they came to clean up the area. 

They were participating in the Putera Motor Merdeka Expedition Kuala-Lumpur-Teluk Batik 2006.  

Some of the Mat and Minah Rempit in the group also jumped into the Teluk Muroh’s masjid’s kolah (water storage pond) that was meant for ablution for worshippers before prayers.  

Even though the locals admonished the group for their improper behaviour, this was ignored. The mosque committee then lodged a complaint with the Manjung District Religious Office (PAIDM). 

PAIDM enforcement officer Mohd Zainuddin Mohamed Zaini confirmed with Harian Metro that his office had received the complaint.  

In addition, he said, PAIDM also received numerous other complaints about this group of 8,000 or so Mat and Minah Rempit who were in Teluk Batik on Sept 9 and Sept 10. 

He said some had checked into a hotel with males and females sharing the same room. He said they claimed that they decided to rent a room because it was not so comfortable camping by the beach.  

The newspaper also contacted Putera Umno head Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim on the incident. He said he had not received any report of wrongdoing and believed it did not happen. 

He said the group of 8,000 were tightly controlled by 100 or so Rela members, and that the 7,700 male participants were put in camps along the beach, while the 300 or so females were placed in motels. 

Utusan Malaysia in its Bisik Bisik column said with the Government also controlling the price of fine sugar, in addition to coarse sugar, it was hoped that supply of the commodity would return to normal. 

The columnist said the 10 sen difference between the two types of sugar should not compel the millers to manipulate the Government or consumers. 

The editorial said this was the first time in the country’s history where supply had become so scarce, and consumers were allowed to buy only one kg per person. 

Friday September 15, 2006

Mat Rempit: We won’t stop

KUALA LUMPUR: Mat Rempit are adamant that illegal racing is here to stay if there is no effort to legitimise the “sport.” 

This is a direct rebuff to friendly overtures from politicians to bring them back to the fold.  

The illegal racers say that if the authorities really want to take them off the streets, all they have to do is build decent and affordable race tracks for them to do their “thing.” 

“They have been promising these things for a long time, but nothing much has been done so far,” said Fairuz, 24, a mechanic by day and racer by night. 

The existing racetracks are inaccessible to the Mat Rempit because “we cannot afford the charges,” he said. 

“As for the organised races, the competition is too tough for us,” said a fellow enthusiast named Zaki. 

Fairuz said the Sepang track was too far away from the city to be an attractive venue for the Mat Rempit – most of whom were low-income earners. 

“Why are there so many golf courses in the city and so few tracks? It looks like nobody bothers about us because we have no money,” he lamented. 

Zaki, 25, added that Mat Rempit were not society’s trash as they were often made out to be. 

“There are among us graduates from foreign universities as well as professionals, like architects and engineers,” said Zaki who himself is a professional in the IT industry.  

He however conceded that the majority were despatch riders and mechanics. 

Even then, all Mat Rempit should not be viewed with disdain just because of a few bad apples, he said. 

“All this negativity about us stems from the activities of a small number who were reported beating up people and caught for vandalism,” said Zaki. 

Fairuz concurred that Mat Rempit were not gangsters, just young men who thrived on the adrenalin rush from racing. 

“Like other sports, we can get emotional in a race. Sometimes fights break out. Then again, it is just among ourselves,” he said. 

Another racer named Kechik said Putera Umno’s plan to convert Mat Rempit into Mat Cemerlang would not work. 

“Mat Rempit will gamely take part in government-organised roadshows and convoys. But after that, it’s back to their cliques and street racing,” said the 23-year-old university student. 

Zaki said he was suspicious of the motives behind Mat Cemerlang.  

“Looks like someone’s trying to get political mileage out of ‘taming’ us,” he said.  

The Star, Monday October 9, 2006

Rempit clash leaves one dead

KUALA LUMPUR: Two rival groups of Mat Rempit clashed early yesterday, leaving one dead and three injured. 

Agusasrafi Sumarji was stabbed in the chest in the 2.30am incident near a petrol station in Jalan Damansara Indah, Bukit Damansara, here. 

Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Dzuraidi Ibrahim said a passing patrol car was stopped by Agusasrafi’s friend after the stabbing. 

The policemen then called for an ambulance and the victim was sent to the University Malaya Medical Centre. 

However, the 21-year-old Agusasrafi, who was admitted to the intensive care unit, died at 3.45am. 

According to ACP Mohd Dzuraidi, the fight is believed to have started when the motorcycles of two Mat Rempit from two different groups came in contact during a race. 

“There were 40 of them in one group and four in the other. “Two men from the larger group and another from the other one were injured in the fight. They were all sent to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for treatment,” he added. 

The case has been classified as murder and 13 people, aged between 18 and 22, have been arrested in connection with the incident. 

Police recovered a 15cm-long knife 200m from the scene as well as a motorcycle believed to belong to one of the suspects. 

ACP Mohd Dzuraidi said police were still looking for the rest of the Mat Rempit to help facilitate investigations. 

Meanwhile, two students who had just sat for the PMR examination were killed in what is believed to be an illegal race in Jalan Teloi Kanan, Baling, on Saturday night, Bernama reported. 

Muhammad Hilmi Zainol and his pillion rider Muhammad Ruslan Othman, both 15, were from Felda Teloi Timur. 

Two others, Nai Narong Kriang, 16, and Son Neak Airon, 15, both from Kampung Lengkuas, Sik, who were on another motorcycle, were seriously injured. 

Muhammad Hilmi, Muhammad Ruslan and Son Neak were classmates at SMK Teloi Kanan. 

Baling OCPD Acting Supt Mat Daud Mat Hasan said Nai Narong fractured both his legs while Son Neak, who sustained chest injuries, had been put on a life support system at the Sungai Petani Hospital. 

Muhammad Hilmi’s father Zainol Mat Isa, 58, when met at his house, said he accepted the death of his son – the youngest of six siblings – as fated. 

“It is very sad with Hari Raya just around the corner and all preparations including his Raya clothing ready,” he added.  

The Star, Sunday October 15, 2006

Mat Rempit getting bolder

BY SIRA HABIBU

ALOR STAR: The gangs of illegal street racers have become bol-der and are not intimidated by the law, state deputy police chief SAC (II) A. Thaiveegan warns. 

“Some Mat Rempit even dare to kick police cars and show vulgar signs at policemen.  

“We are concerned over this new trend where the Mat Rem-pit dared to ridicule and threaten the police,” he said, adding that there were about two or three such cases reported in a day. 

SAC (II) Thaiveegan said po-licemen who are provoked, scolded, ridiculed, or challeng-ed by these Mat Rempit have been told to file reports.  

He said the state police re-ceived between 100 and 150 complaints a month about the activities of Mat Rempit. 

“People are upset with us for not being able to control them. But what are the parents doing, allowing their children to ride motorcycles late at night and in the wee hours of the morning? 

“Our hands are also tied. We can only take action against them when they are caught speeding, if they ride without licence, or if they are riding stolen motorcycles. 

“In many cases, the Mat Rempit prefer to do stunts on stolen motorcycles. That way they can abandon the machines to avoid detection. 

“It is high time that such incidents are recorded as the Mat Rempit are becoming bolder,” he said when commenting on an incident on Wednesday when a policeman allegedly used force on a motorcyclist who was riding without licen-ce. 

The owner of the motorcycle lodged a report claiming that that his machine was damaged during the incident. It is learnt that the seat of the motorcycle was torched. 

Thaiveegan said an inves-tigation was being carried out to ascertain if the com- plainant was telling the truth about who actually torched the motorcycle. 

“So far, we could not find any evidence to substantiate the complainant’s allegations,” he said. 

SAC (II) Thaiveegan also said that about 800 policemen would be stationed at 100 “crime hot spots” in Kulim, Sungai Petani, Alor Star and Kubang Pasu during the Dee-pavali and Hari Raya festive pe-riods.  

The Star, Wednesday October 18, 2006

CPO: Hard to prosecute Mat Rempit

By SIRA HABIBU

IT is difficult to charge illegal racers in court because the existing laws focus on proof, Kedah police chief SAC (I) Datuk Mohd Zuber Shariff said. 

He said that to effectively put an end to the Mat Rempit (daredevil motorcycle riders) menace, the law had to be amended so that it was not centred solely on the burden of proof. 

“How do we prove in court that a person was riding recklessly? 

“We need photographic evidence. Otherwise the suspect will contest the charge,” he said  

SAC (I) Zuber said this after breaking fast with Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharom at the Kubang Pasu district police headquarters on Saturday night. 

He also said the law against snatch theft should be reviewed, as the penalties did not serve as a deterrent. 

“We need to impose stiffer pe-nalty to check habitual snatch thieves. 

“We have come across cases of snatch thieves doing it again and again after serving jail terms,” he added. 

Mohd Johari said the ministry was in the process of making draft amendments to the laws to empower authorities to confiscate motorcycles or suspend licences of those involved in illegal racing and endangering public safety. 

“The proposal will be submitted to the Attorney General for further review,” he said. 

Mohd Johari said parents and non-governmental organisations should also play a greater role in helping to control Mat Rempit. 

He chided parents who allowed their children to ride motor- cycles without licence, adding that parents who suspect their children were involved in illegal racing should impose a curfew on them. 

“In Tanjung Sepat, Selangor, an illegal motorcycle rider who had no licence panicked when he saw a roadblock. In his haste to escape the roadblock he knocked into something and died on the spot. He was not wearing a helmet. 

“There is also a need to re- view the law to take action against parents or guardians who allow their children to handle motor vehicles without licence,” he said.  

The Star, Sunday October 15, 2006

Sign up call to Mat Rempit

PETALING JAYA: The Youth and Sports Ministry has given the Mat Rempit an assurance that no action would be taken against them if they registered with the ministry. 

Ministry’s deputy director-general (sports development) Madzrib Ibrahim said the ministry could create a database on the Mat Rempit and organise legal races for them. 

“Mat Rempit should not worry about registering with us because their personal details will be kept confidential and no action will be taken against them,” he said in a statement yesterday. 

“This is just an exercise to create a mechanism so that healthy activities, that are within the law, can be organised for them,” he added. 

He said if many Mat Rempit came forward, the ministry could plan races in a safe and more organised manner.  

“Lack of data will make it difficult for us to organise such activities for them,” he said. 

Madzrib was responding to the recent report on a clash involving two groups of Mat Rempit from Ulu Langat and Kampung Pandan leading to the killing of one of them. 

“Youngsters who are involved in illegal races have no clear goals and proper activities. If left unchecked, such activities will spread among other youngsters. We are afraid that it is becoming a trend,” he said.  

He said Mat Rempit could directly contact the ministry’s sports development division at 03-88713162, 03-88713159 or go to Level 13, Sports Development Division, Menara Kementerian Belia dan Sukan, Precinct 4, Putrajaya or via its website at www.kbs.gov.my.  

The Star, Monday October 16, 2006

Government planning stiffer penalties to stop Mat Rempit menace

KUALA LUMPUR: Stiffer penalties await Mat Rempit. 

Their motorcycles would be confiscated and their licences suspended. Action would also be taken against the organisers of the illegal races. 

These are some amendments to the laws that the Government is looking at to overcome the problem. 

“This is a clear signal that the Government is serious in overcoming the problem of illegal racing,” Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told reporters after launching a road safety campaign. 

He said there was a proposal by some quarters to impose mandatory jail terms for illegal racing but the Cabinet felt that the punishment was to heavy. 

BON VOYAGE: Najib giving out goodie bags to the Kuala Lumpur-Butterworth express bus commuters at the Jalan Duta terminal in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. Behind him is Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy. –Bernamapic

Najib likened road users who flout the law as “thieves.” 

“If they think they can ‘steal’ and escape from enforcement, they will do it. They don’t realise that they are actually affecting the whole system.” 

He expressed disappointment over the 6,000-odd road fatalities each year despite the Government’s efforts to reduce road accidents. 

“This is unacceptable. If we multiply 6,000 with 10 years, we get 60,000, which is comparable to a population of a small town. It would be great if we can reduce the number.”  

Najib said he told enforcement officers from the police and Road Transport Department to issue summonses on the spot to road users who flout the law during the festive seasons. 

“Don’t give them a chance! Just issue the summons and don’t allow them to accumulate arrears. 

“Don’t practice discretionary power because that will create other problems,” he said.