PETALING JAYA: Scheduling street races for mat rempit (illegal motorcycle racers) will not prevent problems such as drug abuse, intoxication and underaged or illegal riders, says criminologist and psychologist Dr Geshina Ayu Mat Saat.
The Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer said illegal betting was also involved in street races, adding that she doubted the effectiveness of the proposal in tackling these vices.
She described mat rempit as “risk takers” who were unlikely to be impressed or thrilled by the Government’s plan to close certain city roads to allow them to race legally.
“They love it when there are obstacles. That’s the thrill they are seeking – not empty roads.”
Dr Geshina said the idea announced by Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor was not novel, as she had heard of similar moves in the Britain while studying there.
Tengku Adnan said the night track would be modelled after the bi-weekly Car Free mornings in Kuala Lumpur, where several roads in Kuala Lumpur would be closed for a few hours to enable the mat rempit to race unhampered.
Dr Geshina said scheduled races would make roads safer for pedestrians and other road users provided the mat rempit only raced at the designated times and places.
But she said it was unlikely that all of them would come to Kuala Lumpur and stop racing elsewhere.
“I don’t think it will work,” she said.
Dr Geshina suggested that an in-depth study be carried out on the issue of mat rempit, adding that the problem ran deeper than just racing.
A former member of a notorious mat rempit gang in Kuala Terengganu expressed agreement with Dr Geshina's opinion, saying closed roads will not give the illegal speedsters the same thrill.
Abdul Ramli Jusoh, 24, said the idea will not work and believes they will look for alternative routes to show off their stunts to motorists.
“As a former mat rempit, I know what gives them a high and sets their adrenaline pumping.
“They are attention-seekers and want people to see their performance.
“They won’t be keen to race without a crowd,” he said in an interview from his home in Kampung Bukit Guntong in Kuala Terengganu.
Abdul Ramli said he and many of his friends had given up the illegal activity after witnessing the deaths of three of their fellows in a horrific crash in November 2010.
