JB cops nab 13 Mat Lajak, seize modified bikes

JOHOR BARU: Police arrested a group of 13 Mat Lajak and seized 15 modified bicycles at Jalan Denai in Taman Bukit Jaya here.

Johor Baru South deputy OCPD Supt M. Kumar said that all of the cyclists, aged 11 to 15 years, were nabbed following a tip off from the public at around 4.30pm on Friday.

He said all of the cyclists were brought to the Pelangi Indah station to have their statements recorded before they were handed over to their parents on the same day.

"The cyclists were issued with summonses, under Rule 42 (1) (a) of LN 166/59 Traffic Rules 1959, for modifying the brakes and the bells of their bicycles," he said in a statement.

He added that if found guilty, the cyclists could each face a fine of not more than RM2,000 or jail term of not more than six months. All of the bicycles were seized under Section 112(3) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

Supt Kumar said that the police had also recorded the parents' details and advised them to be more aware of their children's activities.

"I would like to urge the parents to constantly monitor their children as police may take legal action against parents of Mat Lajak, under Section 33 of the Child Act 2001," he said.

He added that if found guilty, parents could face a fine of not more than RM5,000 or jail term of not more than two years or both upon conviction.

"Government agencies and non-governmental organisations should also play their part in creating awareness regarding the dangers of such activities in an effort to prevent the Feb 18 tragedy from repeating," he said.

Eight teenagers were killed in a tragic accident on Feb 18 when a car driven by a 22-year-old woman ploughed into a group of cyclists on Jalan Lingkaran Dalam here. Eight other teenagers were injured in the incident.