KUALA LUMPUR: A crackdown on illegal motorcycle racing in the city saw six individuals arrested and 83 modified bikes seized, after police intercepted hundreds of riders who turned major roads into impromptu racetracks.
The large-scale operation, conducted by the Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department, was held at the DUKE Expressway, Jalan Ipoh-Sentul, Jalan Ipoh-Chow Kit and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
Department chief Asst Comm Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa said the operation, which ran from 9pm on Saturday until 5am yesterday, involved inspection of 450 motorcycles.
“Of these, 83 motorcycles were seized, six individuals were arrested under Section 42 of the Road Transport Act and one rider tested positive for methamphetamine and was held under Section 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,” he said.
“We also issued 692 summonses for offences including riding without a valid licence and other traffic violations.”
Many of the seized motorcycles had been heavily modified, featuring non-compliant tyres, missing brakes and noisy exhausts – complaints that had been raised by residents.
Teenagers aged 16 to 19, with some as young as 14, made up the majority of riders.
“Parents are urged to closely monitor their children’s movements and ensure compliance with road regulations,” ACP Mohd Zamzuri added.
During the operation, several motorcyclists were seen riding against traffic in desperate attempts to escape arrest.
The DUKE Expressway, which had been transformed into a late-night racing circuit, drew hundreds of riders as early as 1am.
The roar of modified exhausts shattered the early morning calm, with some riders performing dangerous stunts such as zig-zagging between lanes, doing “superman” poses and popping wheelies.
The integrated operation involved 174 officers and personnel from various agencies, including 116 from the Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department, 14 from the National Anti-Drugs Agency, 26 from DUKE Expressway and additional personnel from the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Departments of Sentul and Wangsa Maju district police headquarters.
ACP Mohd Zamzuri said the operation was carried out in two phases: the first involved roadblocks along Jalan Ipoh towards Chow Kit and Sentul, and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, while the second focused on the Sentul district, including the DUKE Expressway.
Among those arrested was a 17-year-old from Wangsa Maju, caught for the fourth time for riding without a valid licence despite having previously been fined three times for the same offence.
The teen said he had worked at a restaurant to settle RM900 in fines and claimed he was on his way to a friend’s house in Sentul when arrested.
He claimed to be in the process of obtaining his licence by the end of the month and that his parents had repeatedly reminded him to take responsibility for his actions.
