Transparency International Malaysia (TI-Malaysia) has responded to the deaths of two teenagers in an illegal motorcycle race by calling for greater parental accountability.

While lamenting the loss, the group said the incident also highlighted the failure of the boys’ parents to monitor their children’s activities.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of two 13-year-old friends who were involved in the recent illegal motorcycle racing accident in Elmina Business Park in Sungai Buloh.

“This unfortunate incident underscores the failure of parents to monitor their children’s movement, habits and activities.

“We fully support the statement made by Sungai Buloh police chief Mohd Hafiz Muhammad Nor calling out to parents and guardians to be more responsible in monitoring their children, particularly minors, and also to charge the parents of the victims under Section 39 of the Road Transport Act 1987 and Section 31(1(a) of the Child Act 2001,” said the group’s president Muhammad Mohan.

He said these laws were enacted to ensure that children are protected and not exposed to unnecessary danger.

“TI-Malaysia has often highlighted the nexus between the perceived integrity crisis among the youth and the basic moral and ethical value system in our society.

“Today we see that this value system among the youth is diminishing,” he claimed.

Integrity begins at home

In the 11.20pm incident on Aug 14, the motorcycles of the two friends collided head-on during an attempted “wheelie” stunt, where a biker lifts the front wheel at a dangerously high speed.

TI-Malaysia pointed to an Institute of Youth Research Malaysia Youth Data Bank System study showing that 16,566 youths aged 16 to 18 were involved and arrested in index crimes throughout Malaysia including theft, murder, rape and armed robbery from 2018 to 2022.

TI-Malaysia president Muhammad Mohan

“Similarly, according to MACC statistics, civil servants in their 40s and below constituted 57.8 percent out of 5,652 people arrested between 2007 and 2022 for corruption-related offences.

“These statistics indicate that the decay of basic moral and ethical values among our youth is serious and apparently at least statistically, parents as well are not being the example of practising good moral and ethical values,” said Muhammad.

He added that TI-Malaysia urges all parents to devote more time to inculcating good moral and ethical values at home when their children are young and monitor their progress as they grow.

“As parents, we should not expect the school teachers or the universities alone to teach these values.

“More importantly, since moral values are ‘caught’ rather than ‘taught’, parents themselves need to be exemplary in upholding integrity and ethical standards, especially when the children are at an impressionable age.

“It will be too late to make such corrections when they reach adulthood,” he said, adding that not only charity but integrity begins at home.

Guardians in the dock as two 13-year-old bikers killed in wheelie stunt

Guardians in the dock as two 13-year-old bikers killed in wheelie stunt

Cop detained to assist in probe over death of m-cyclist

Cop detained to assist in probe over death of m-cyclist

Motorcyclist dies in ICU after purportedly colliding with police patrol vehicle

Motorcyclist dies in ICU after purportedly colliding with police patrol vehicle