PETALING JAYA: Lim Guan Eng has urged authorities to take much stronger action against the Mat Rempit culture and illegal motorcycle racing as they endanger the lives of other road users.
The DAP chairman said there were clearly more fatal accidents caused by or involving Mat Rempits compared with deaths due to drunk driving, yet the authorities seemed to be coming down harder on cases of driving under the influence (DUI).
“Clearly these Mat Rempit are a menace to public safety and have endangered both the lives and livelihood of innocent motorists,” he said in a statement.
Lim cited data from the police, pointing out that the number of road users involved in DUI accidents related to alcohol and drugs was 212 in 2020 and 39 in 2019, 191 (2018), 212 (2017), and 461 (2016). In comparison, he said thousands of deaths could be attributed to accidents involving Mat Rempit since 2009.
The Bagan MP said the penalties for DUI of alcohol or drugs to the extent of causing injury without death had been increased to RM50,000 or a 7-10 year jail sentence or both, while those driving intoxicated face a fine between RM1,000 to RM5,000, a jail sentence of not more than two years, or both.
“The same punishment should be imposed on Mat Rempit and other motorcyclists who are involved in illegal racing,” Lim said.
Lim said Wee Ka Siong is unfit to be the transport minister if he cannot see the huge disparity between fatal accidents caused by Mat Rempit racing illegally on our highways and deaths caused by drunk driving.
Last week, five men died after an early-morning pile-up involving Mat Rempit taking part in illegal motorcycle racing on a coastal highway in Penang. Three men died at the scene at the Lim Chong Eu expressway, and the remaining two in hospital. - FMT
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