Designating certain roads to allow Mat Rempit (illegal motorcycle racers) to race will not solve the problem of illegal racing in the city and will probably end in failure, according to Malaysian Cub Prix promotions director Ron Hogg.

"It will not solve the problem. The challenge would be if these guys want to come all the way there (to the designated areas).

"It (illegal motorcycle street racing) is very much on an underground level. The type of races those people are looking for, well, I don't know if the KL roads will provide the same thrill even if you close them," Hogg told Malaysiakini today.

He pointed out the Terengganu government had attempted a similar move in Kuala Berang a few years ago when they closed off several roads there for Mat Rempit.

"They stopped it because the response was poor, and I believe it will be a similar problem (in Kuala Lumpur)," he said.

Not only that, he added, there were various other factors to consider if they intended to close off roads for Mat Rempit to race.

These included public safety, legal issues and insurance coverage, he said.

"How are you going to make it safe?" Hogg questioned.

Instead of designating roads in the city, he instead suggested making more smaller circuits around the country to to attract young illegal racers to race safely.

He noted that if they were truly interested in becoming professional racers, they would seek out proper circuits to race on.

Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had on Monday proposed to close off several roads in the capital once or twice a week for youth to race their motorcycles.

The proposal was to overcome the long-standing problem of Kuala Lumpur roads being used for illegal street races by Mat Rempit.

The minister's idea, however, has met with lukewarm response.