Rempits want race track, condemn ‘racist’ CM

The capital of Penang was shaken by the roar of motorcycle engines, when some 300 youths held a protest convoy. But Lim Guan Eng's aide believes the bikes were running on Umno fuel.

GEORGE TOWN: Another demonstration marred the state legislative assembly session when some 300 youths on motorcycles held a convoy.

The Mat Rempits demanded that the state government builds a race track for them.

The two-kilometre convoy was from Komtar, which houses state government offices, to the State Legislative Assembly House in Lebuh Light.

The Mat Rempits, claiming to be members of the unregistered Pertubuhan Islam Gabungan Amal (PER3), gathered at the Komtar ground floor around noon before kickstarting their convoy to the House via Penang Road and Chulia Street.

Ironically, they were escorted by police patrol cars and traffic policemen on motorbikes throughout the journey.

Many of the Mat Rempits were spotted wearing yellow t-shirts with an anti-Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng slogan, which read: “Selamatkan Pulau Pinang. LGE Rasis !!!” (Save Penang. LGE racist).

The convoy, which stopped several times, also brought traffic to a standstill in certain areas. The bikers also displayed banners, which among others, read: “Selamatkan Pulau Pinang. Selamatkan Mat Rempit.”

The convoy reached outside the House at 1pm and the bikers chanted anti-state government slogans, condemning Lim as a “racist” and “communist”.

Apart from hurling abuses at the policemen, some also smashed their helmets on the road to register their protest.

The bikers even defied the police’s order to disperse, leading to five of them being held, including

Sabaruddin Ahmad, who claimed to be the PER3 president.

‘Hired by Umno’

Lim’s political secretary and Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik was quick to describe the rowdy bikers as “hired Umno protesters.”

“Mat Rempits are not interested in politics. I say the protesters were paid by Umno to demonstrate only until 1pm,” he told reporters.

Ng was also furious with the police’s lack of action and demanded an explanation from city police chief ACP Gan Kong Meng.

“The police were unprofessional in handling this violent protest. The OCPD owes the public an explanation on his failure to uphold law and public order.

“Why is the OCPD so afraid of Umno?” he asked.