NST, 6 June 2007 Public demands stop to Mat Rempit menace KUALA LUMPUR: Enough is enough. This was the sentiment of an outraged public who wants the authorities to put a stop to the Mat Rempit menace once and for all. Reacting to yesterday’s New Straits Times report "I was attacked by Mat Rempit" by journalist Lydia Gomez, many horrified readers called on the authorities to impose whipping on illegal racers as a deterrent. NST’s official blog — the Monster Blog — was flooded with angry responses from readers who demanded that sterner action be taken to put a stop to the menace. Many also related their own terrifying experiences with Mat Rempit and almost all said the current action and punishment were insufficient to deal with the escalating menace. In yesterday’s article, Gomez related how she was nearly robbed by a group of Mat Rempit early Saturday morning. Gomez had stopped at a traffic light junction in Bangsar when the unruly mob rode up next to her car and started to perform stunts. Ignoring them in the hope that they would go away, she was shocked when one of them smashed her car window in an attempt to snatch her handbag which was on the passenger seat. The Mat Rempit also pulled out a dagger. Fearing for her life, Gomez stepped on the accelerator and sped off despite the red light. Many of those who posted their comments on the blog made clear their disgust for the Mat Rempit by likening them to animals and calling them names. Some, like "Datook G", had this to say: "Mandatory caning of at least two strokes for the Mat Rempit. Cane those who are underage, too! Jail time is rubbish... caning is best whether male or female." Another enraged reader, "Wong SL", wrote: "I am tired of hearing about incidents due to Mat Rempit... They have to learn their lesson. Better to teach them at a young age before it is too late. A criminal is a criminal and nothing else..." "Along" joined in the tirade with: "This is what happens when people glorify Mat Rempit. Take them sky diving-lah. Now they want to step on your head. Catch them and jail them. Give them the rotan." "Leongsoon" described theMat Rempit as "Helmet-wielding barbarians on motorcycles" and likened them to the sword-wielding barbarians on horsebacks in the 19th century. "ESpeaks", meanwhile, is among those who urged the authorities to confiscate their motorcycles. There were also many accounts by those who had been attacked by Mat Rempit while others warned of the presence of the illegal racers in other parts of the city. Many also claimed their reports to the authorities had fallen on deaf ears while others took the police to task for not making it easier for victims to lodge reports. In her article, Gomez also said that when she wanted to lodge a report at the Bukit Jelutong police station, she was told to do it at the Brickfields police headquarters instead as the incident had happened at another jurisdiction. Selangor police chief Datuk Ismail Omar warned that disciplinary action would be taken against policemen who refused to accept reports. He said it was standard operating procedure for policemen to accept reports even if the incident occurred elsewhere. "I am not happy over this matter and have ordered an internal investigation to be conducted." Ismail said the officer on counter duty at the Bukit Jelutong police station would be given a chance explain himself to the disciplinary board. "We have to be fair and I also wish to know the details. So, he will be given a chance to explain his action," he said. COMMENTS The Mat Rempit menace Posted on 04 June 2007 by Suanie I would like to draw your attention to a harrowing incident faced by NST reporter Lydia Gomez last Saturday. ‘I was attacked by Mat Rempit’ By Lydia Gomez […] The many police patrol cars and roadblocks in the Bangsar area, especially on weekends, made me think I was safe. Friday night was meant to be a prelude to my birthday on Wednesday. I spent it with friends from Penang. After dropping off a friend, I reached the T-junction of Lorong Maarof and Jalan Maarof, just before the Bang- sar Shopping Centre. I stopped as the lights were red. My Perodua Kancil was the only car there. That’s when at least 15 people on motorbikes rode past me. Some were performing “wheelies” and pull- ing other Mat Rempit stunts. Some were shirtless, some wearing full-face helmets and some were shouting and screaming at their own stunts. I thought I was safe, as I was minding my own business, waiting for the light to turn green. Seconds later, I felt my car shake and I saw one of them, wearing a white-collared T- shirt, blue jeans and visor, banging on my car door. He tried to open it but failed as I had locked the doors. I was stunned but decided to wait for the light to change. Suddenly a hard object hit my passenger window. There was a crack. Something hard crashed into the window again, shattering it. I was paralysed with fear. It all happened within seconds. Then I noticed one of them drawing out a dagger about five inches long from the pocket of his denims. This was when I knew they were after my handbag, which was on the passenger seat. The traffic light was red, but I stepped on the accelerator. One of the Mat Rempit chased me. I sped off, beating the lights as I feared for my life. Fortunately, the motorcyclist gave up. I pulled up before the Damansara toll booth. My hands were shaking and I was in a state of panic. Latest update policemen who refuse to take reports here: Posted in: Issues Author's web site: http://www.suanie.net Comments (109) -> “The Mat Rempit menace” 1. Dr. Lai 04 June 2007 11:10 1 Why didn,t you drive straight to the Damansara police station? That could have prompted immediate police action and could have prevented the Mat Rempit from mugging or injuring other parties. 2. MICHAEL ZECHARIAH 04 June 2007 11:13 2 Thank God you are save. I hope the other girl who lodged police report also did not suffer any injury. You know to say, KL is a crime city like Detroit may not be fair, but you know what? I think after midnight whatever could possibly happen in Detroit can happen in KL as well. The diferrence here maybe you don’t have groups of bad guys driving around the city on a shooting spree after a heroin party. Here you may find mat rempits going around terrosing the neibourhood after some cough mixture cocktails. Well, this is two OO seven,so wheather its KL, Detroit, Los Angeles or Shah Alam, the best thing we do as step one is to be on guard all the time, the moment we step out of the house, that’s including going out of the house just to trow rubbish. I am not in any way advocating to live in fear. It’s just about the need of being on guard as times are such. 3. KG Tan 04 June 2007 11:13 3 4/June/2007 It makes us wonder where the police are when they are most needed…maybe lesser time should be wasted harassing the innocent motorists like truck drivers, etc. As Malaysia celebrates its 50th anniversary,do we have enough political will to ast decisively..or should we ask all motorists to refrain from being out after 12 midnight, to avoid “provoking” the Mat Rempits?? What a wonderful idea of self-imposed curfew, though… 4. Richard 04 June 2007 11:15 4 Sorry to know about your encounter. Well, all I can say is, “Be more careful in the future, and try not to go anywhere alone so late in the night, or rather wee hours in the morning”. No matter how many reports or weight this piece of news carries, nothing changes. Those Mat Rempits have been around Bangsar for ages, menacing the roads and residents in that area. I wonder how many reports the police have had recieved, yet those Mat Rempits are still there. If you ever been to Bangsar for “tea-tarik”, say around 1 - 3 am on weekends, I bet you can see several police cars patrolling around that area, well only on short stints mostly. And, once they are gone, the party begins. I hate to say this, for immediate attention and serious heeds from the authority, someone had to pay the price, like an innocent victim who someone important or some VVIP’s kid get mobbed, robbed or killed accidentally. Sorry to say this, and if you been around, observing from the backline, I am sure many will agree with me. 5. DatookG 04 June 2007 11:32 5 Dear police Please do something about the Mat Rempits around Pragin Mall and Komtar, Penang and also the Initial Ds on the top level car park Pragin Mall, Penang. Dear censor board, Why did you lift the ban on Fast and the Furious and you allow Initial D to be shown on TV and in the cinema with an Umum rating. Oh Malaysia. 6. GT 04 June 2007 11:36 6 Sorry to hear the incident that had happened to you. You should have just whacked your car into those Rempits. You are lucky because they are in a small party and they did not chase after you.