Will Banning 'Kapcai' Bikes Keep Rempits Off The Road?
The proposal states that the ban on the sales of motorcycles with 90-300CC will curb rempit activities because these motorcycles are the most common ones used by Mat Rempits.
By Tang Ruxyn — 23 Sep 2015, 06:01 PM — Updated about 9 years ago
Mat Rempits and illegal street racing have been an ongoing issue in Malaysia for years. However, the general public is yet to see any substantial effort by the authorities to improve the situation so far.
Illegal motorcycle street racers in Malaysia are famously known as "Mat Rempit".
These Mat Rempit are notorious for extreme kinds of racing, including performing stunts and other feats on their motorcycles.
In addition to the physical dangers they pose to innocent bystanders and themselves, they have been a public nuisance.
So, when PM Najib Razak asked Malaysians what they want for Budget 2016, a concerned Malaysian took the advantage to propose that the government stop the sales of motorcycles with 90CC-300CC to reduce the rempit problems
According to the Ministry of Transport Malaysia (MOTM), of the total 525,091 motorcycles sold in 2011, 96% had engine capacities lower than 150cc
The most common category of motorcycle in Malaysia is the underbone motorcycle or the kapcai.
A typical underbone motorcycle’s engine capacity ranges from 50 to 150cc. These motorcycles have a maximum speed of 80–140 km/h depending on the engine capacity.
Underbone motorcycles are very popular because they are reliable and affordable compared to other forms of motor vehicles in Malaysia.
researchgate.net
Naturally, this proposal, if taken into consideration, will affect many regular motorcyclists in Malaysia.
In reaction, netizens have voiced out their opinion on the proposal, with most of them saying that the idea of stopping sales of such bikes does not solve the underlying issue and suggested that the government instill good values instead.
A comment saying that Mat Rempit will resort to using superbikes if the proposal is implemented.
Image via Facebook
A Facebook comment saying that campaigns to instil good values into Mat Rempits should be able to overcome rempit problems.
Image via Facebook
A Facebook comment saying that the issue of rempit has nothing to do with the motorcycle's CC but rather civic consciousness and values.
Image via FacebookHowever, how true are these claims? And will the banning of the sales of 90CC-300CC motorcycles really curb these people from participating in illegal street racing activities?
We took a look at past studies on motorcycle fatalities in Malaysia and discovered some interesting findings that could possibly be related to illegal racing activities.
Males aged between 16 and 25 are among the most commonly involved in motorcycle fatalities. Most of them have no licences or have less than 3 years of experience.
Motorcycle fatalities are more frequent in rural areas may be due to greater speeds made possible by lower traffic volumes and less traffic control.
On the other hand, studies have confirmed that fatal motorcycle crashes are likely to occur on straight road sections that encourage speeding.
It has also been shown that young motorcyclists ride for enjoyment, expression and thrill, and in doing so they tend to violate traffic laws e.g., by not wearing helmets and exceeding the speed limit.
researchgate.net
A study published in BioMed Central revealed that peer pressure, boredom and lack of recreational activities, and stress are the main factors that influence a person's participation in illegal racing
Illegal motorcycle racers performed dangerous stunts while riding to gain respect and honour from peers and the street racing community for being brave and tough.
Many also reasoned that boredom and lack of recreational activities for leisure participation contributed to their involvement in street racing, while a minority viewed street racing as an effective means to reduce stress.
researchgate.net