Racing hotspots: The police have identified several areas where the mat rempit gather, like the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway and a section of the North-South Expressway near Sungai Dua.
GEORGE TOWN: A total of 51 motorcyclists here have been taken to court while 25 more are still waiting to be charged – all for being involved in illegal street racing.
Penang police chief Comm Datuk Azizee Ismail said they have opened 76 investigation papers so far this year against riders for reckless and dangerous driving offences.
“Operations carried out so far this year have resulted in the arrest of 116 individuals,” he said.
“We will continue to bring offenders to justice and crack down on illegal street racing and road hooliganism in the state.”
Comm Azizee said they have identified several hotspots where the mat rempit gather, like the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway near the Seagate factory and a section of the North-South Expressway near Sungai Dua.
“The Butterworth Outer Ring Road has also become a popular gathering point for motorists engaging in dangerous stunts.
“Several inner-city roads including Jalan Kampung Jawa near Sunshine Square in Bayan Baru and Jalan Ampang Jajar in Permatang Pauh are also among the hotspots,” he added.
To curb the menace, Comm Azizee said the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) has intensified preventive measures to tackle this problem across the state.
The police, he said, would also hold awareness campaigns such as Ops Didik in schools and conduct daily patrols across the districts as part of the ongoing preventive measures.
Penang Crime Consciousness and Public Safety Society chairman Datuk Mohamad Anil Shah Abdullah said illegal street racing should not be treated solely as a traffic offence without tackling the root cause.
“Many offenders are young, still in school or newly employed. Education efforts must also involve parents and families as they need to be responsible, too, for the action of their children,” he said.
Mohamad Anil, a former top cop in Penang, said some of the illegal racing cases also had links to substance abuse.
“Parents, schools, NGOs and the wider community all need to work together to tackle this menace. If not, there’s a risk the youths may eventually drift into more serious crimes,” he added.
