B. Suresh Ram
The Sun
KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 24, 2007): Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang urges the government to pay serious attention to the growing menace of Mat Rempit which has not been tackled effectively.
“As such, the Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights and Good Governance calls on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also Internal Security Minister, to give his personal attention to wipe out the Mat Rempit menace which is subverting law and order, creating fear among Malaysians and visitors and tarnishing the country internationally,” he said.
Lim, who is also the caucus deputy chairman, made the call in a press conference in Parliament lobby today to highlight the latest case of Mat Rempit assaulting engineering consultant Manjit Sokhai, 43, from Montreal who comes to Malaysia three to four times a year for his work.
Manjit, who was also present at the press conference, said he was driving his four-wheel drive along Jalan Rasah, Seremban, at about 11pm on Saturday when the incident happened without any provocation.
“I was with three friends from India when 40 Mat Rempit on motorcycles beat me and damaged my vehicle by smashing the rear lights, wipers and number plate,” he said.
Manjit, wjo lodged a report the following day with the Seremban police station, said the incident happened when the Mat Rempit blocked his path.
“They did not say anything … they just punched me on the shoulder,” he said, adding that he was scared and worried for his safety.
“How can the government expect to succeed in making Malaysia an investment centre, a tourist haven or an international hub of academic excellence to attract foreign students when the government is incapable of performing its most fundamental duty to ensure the personal safety and security of its citizens and visitors,” said Manjit.
Lim said Mat Rempit have been going on a rampage, causing harm to innocent people and property, and this has become a common an occurrence in the past two months. The list incidents:
- Mat Rempit reacted violently against the police by damaging a police patrol car at the Merdeka celebrations;
- Senior citizen Yusoff Abdullah, 69, was knocked down and killed by a Mat Rempit in Pasir Tumboh, Kota Baru early Sept 8 morning. The Mat Rempit who hit Yusoff, Ahmad Fuad Ariffin, 19 also died on the spot;
- Mohd Fairus Abdul Aziz, 21, a restaurant worker was killed after he fell from his motorcycle on Jalan Tun Razak near the US Embassy where he was surrounded and kicked by five Mat Rempit at about 5.40am on Oct 11. Fairus was about to send his girl friend home after breaking fast when he was surrounded by the Mat Rempit who wanted to take her girl friend away; and
- Wan Asmadi Wan Ahmad, 36, a Road Transport Department Enforcement Unit senior officer was hit by a Mat Rempit in an Ops Sikap XIII operation on Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, Ipoh, at about 10.15pm on Oct 21. He suffered serious head injuries and a broken leg.
