Putrajaya’s proposal to close roads in Kuala Lumpur for Mat Rempit to race at nights legally will only worsen road safety and social issues. Is the government really serious in wanting to improve road safety, or trying to pander to the habits and wishes of Mat Rempit?

Malaysia already has a bad road safety record with nearly 7,000 motorists dying every year. Out of this figure 60 percent are motorcyclists. To date the authorities have not achieved any significant improvement in tackling road safety. Instead the authorities resorted to the following ways and only messed up everything by:

a) Giving discounts for illegal motorcyclists obtaining driving licences;

b) Giving rebates for settling summonses;

c) Allowing motorcyclists to obtain riding licence at a young age of 16;

d) Lax enforcement;

e) Suggesting that superbikes be made more affordable in order to encourage the sport.

If Mat Rempit are legally given the space for their night activities, they will continue to exercise their skills even when they ride on normal roads at other times. What will prevent them from doing so when the traffic enforcement is so weak?

If Mat Rempit are given training on motorcycles and they become mechanics and open workshops, as suggested by Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, we will likely be seeing more illegally modified motorcycles on the road.

With the existing laws, all we need is tough enforcement to ensure that our motorists understand that the authorities mean business, not by legalising and giving in to suit the whims and fancies of motorists. Discipline is the keyword which has to be instilled in children from young and cannot be achieved overnight. There are no shortcuts.

Therefore, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) strongly urges the authorities not to provide car-free roads for Mat Rempit.

SM MOHAMED IDRIS is president, Consumers Association of Penang (CAP).