KUALA LUMPUR, 19 May 2009: Mat rempit or illegal motorcycle racers may be given the mandatory jail sentence, heavier than the current minimum fine of RM5,000 and a maximum jail term of five years.
Bukit Aman Traffic Chief Datuk Abdul Aziz Yusof said a proposal to raise the penalty under an amendment to Section 42 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 would be made to the Transport Ministry.
“We have discussed the imposition of the mandatory jail sentence on these offenders. Previously, most of them paid the fine or summons, but once this law is enforced all offenders must serve a jail sentence depending on the offence committed,” he told reporters at the Dataran Merdeka here today.
He said the mandatory jail sentence was proposed for those aged 18 years and above.
“We are also considering sending underaged offenders to schools for the juvenile,” he said.
Abdul Aziz said 69 people were arrested nationwide in a 17-day integrated operation against illegal racing and crime which started on 1 May. Forty of them were aged below 20 years and three were aged below 15, he added.
“Thirty-three of them have been charged in court while the rest are still being investigated by the police,” he said.
He said that during that period, 13,000 summonses were issued to drivers and motorcyclists for various offences, of which 50% were offences for not having a driving licence, road tax and vehicle insurance.
“We also seized five stolen motorcycles and arrested 29 of the 589 individuals inspected for drug abuse,” he said.
Abdul Aziz said that to beef up efforts, they would extend Squad 42, which focuses on curbing illegal racing, to all contingents nationwide.
“Several contingents already have a Squad 42, such as the Kuala Lumpur contingent. So I hope that other contingents will have their own by the end of the year,” he said. — Bernama
