Cops: Mat Lajak stealing rental bikes

Stolen wheels: Bicycle racing gang members have stolen numerous Ofo Melaka Eco bicycles, often repainting them to avoid detection.

MELAKA: It started as an ambitious bike-rental project, but it almost immediately became a boon for the notorious Mat Lajak groups here instead.

These bicycle racers have stolen at least 24 Ofo Melaka Eco bicycles, which are part of a 500-bicycle fleet launched by Beijing-based bike-rental company Ofo Inc, and converted them into racing bikes.