Will Sam’s nightmare end ‘Mat Basikal’ menace?

 

Sam Ke Ting has been freed in the modified bicycle or “basikal lajak” case in Johor.

She had a tragic encounter with “Mat Basikal”, who generally do not obey traffic rules and act as if the road belongs to them.

Unfortunately, her case was turned into a sort of racial issue by one or two politicians.

Many incidents in Malaysia are quite easily resolved, but some degenerate into race or religious-based issues, especially when politicians and like-minded individuals get involved.

Some self-serving politicians will complicate matters and allow the issues to spiral out of control.

Other politicians and community leaders are reluctant to step in to defuse the situation. Why? Many are weak and insecure, and do not want to compromise their own precarious positions. Others simply cannot be bothered.

In some cases, civil servants in positions of authority and decision-making simply play along and do nothing.

These are not isolated incidents. There are other examples, such as fireman Muhammad Adib Muhammad Kassim’s alleged assault at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple riots, the incident over the mobile phone theft at Low Yat Plaza, and the custody cases involving single mothers M Indira Gandhi and Loh Siew Hong.

Instead of hurling accusations, the detractors should be finding ways to end the “Mat Rempit” and “Mat Basikal” menace, and looking for solutions to improve the standard of English, and overall standard of education, in our schools.

We have enough laws in place to prosecute the offender and also protect the victim, so why must we find the racial or religious scapegoat, or search high and low for a farcical reason, to avoid enforcing the law?

In Sam’s case, there were accusations that she was drunk, high on drugs, had fallen asleep at the wheel, or was texting when she rammed into the youngsters on “basikal lajak”.

Police investigations proved them wrong, but she still had to ensure her nightmare for six years, not knowing if she would be jailed or released.

In the end, she won her appeal, and became a free woman.

In the meantime, the “Mat Rempit” and “Mat Basikal” menace continues. Will our politicians now do something about this problem? - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.