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A Malaysian motorcycle convoy is calling for a travel boycott of Thailand after claiming they were unfairly fined 12,000 baht (about RM1,470) for various traffic offences in Hat Yai
In a series of Facebook posts since last week, influencer Tok Singa, whose his real name is Muhammad Firdaus Mohd Adnan, said nine convoy members were issued 12 fines, some of which he claimed were unfair.
He said the group was stopped by a Thai traffic police officer upon arriving in Hat Yai and escorted to a police station for inspection.
While Firdaus acknowledged that some convoy members were rightfully fined for using illegally blinking lights, which they accepted and were willing to pay, he expressed outrage over the remaining summonses.
"The officer checked our motorcycles one by one before issuing summonses for various offences, including the use of blinking lights, noisy exhaust systems, and other traffic-related violations," he said.
Firdaus claimed that the motorcycles fined for having noisy exhaust systems had not been modified and were fitted with their original exhausts.
He said his own Yamaha Y16, which he claimed was completely stock, was also fined for being too loud.
The authorities allegedly ordered the riders to remove the "illegal" exhausts and replace them with original parts on the spot, leaving the tourists scrambling to find a workshop and additional funds.
Another major point of contention was the Thai police's strict documentation requirements and refusal to accept Malaysia's digital driving licences
Firdaus claimed that one rider was fined for presenting a duplicate physical licence without a photo.
Another rider who had left his physical vehicle ownership certificate (VOC) and insurance documents at the hotel was issued three fines.
Firdaus added that the inspection allegedly took three hours, saying only one officer was conducting the checks. He also claimed that Thai police threatened to detain the riders if they failed to pay the fines promptly.
"We came here not to rev our engines or run traffic lights. That treatment would be understandable if we were doing those.
"We are tourists. That's why I'm proposing to boycott going to Hat Yai. It seems like they (Thai police) are deliberately finding faults with Malaysian riders.
"And it's not just us. Previously, Harley-Davidson riders were also fined despite their exhausts being factory standard.
"We don't understand the laws in Thailand these days. It's as if they want to oppress Malaysians. Meanwhile, locals' own bikes are even louder, and they don't wear helmets. Their bikes have all sorts of modifications, but nothing happens to them," he claimed.
Firdaus' posts have garnered thousands of likes, with one receiving over 47,000
A poster titled "Boycott Thailand" received over 7,800 likes.
Many netizens expressed support for the boycott, with some claiming that Malaysian tourists have always faced various unfair practices.
However, some urged fellow travellers to always abide by local laws, saying there should be no argument about complying with them.
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