JOHOR BARU, Feb 4 — Johor traffic police will increase their presence on major roads in the state to curb the Mat Rempit and Lajak bicycle menace.
Johor police chief Datuk Mohd Khalil Kader Mohd said traffic police officers on motorcycles have been ordered to increase their patrols on main roads statewide.
“Basically, the traffic police teams will initiate a CHP (California Highway Patrol) style of patrols around the clock on all major roads within the state capital here as well as major towns such as Batu Pahat, Muar and Segamat.
“This initiative will also complement the traffic police roadblocks on main roads,” Mohd Khalil told the media after revealing last year’s traffic police statistics at the state police contingent headquarters here today.
Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar expressed displeasure yesterday on the Mat Rempit menace.
Nationwide, police have been focusing on illegal racing under the Ops Lumba Haram and Ops Samseng Jalanan operations.
Illegal motorcycle racing is a nationwide menace for all main cities, especially in Kuala Lumpur where Mat Rempits take over the main roads, endangering other motorists.
According to Mohd Khalil, the initiative will be led by the state traffic police and will be assisted by Bukit Aman’s traffic unit.
“Besides curbing illegal racing, police will also check for modified motorcycle exhausts pipes that emit loud noise above the permitted decibel.
“These are among the proactive action taken by police to curb these two menaces,” he said.
Mohd Khalil said those found flouting the law for illegal racing on public roads will be immediately arrested under Section 42 of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless and dangerous driving and also endangering the driver.
Last year, police confiscated a total of 2,379 motorcycles for various traffic offences. This figure was lower by 161 motorcycles compared to 2016.
