Ministry finalising amendments to combat Mat Rempit menace

KUALA LUMPUR: The transport ministry is finalising amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987, which will introduce clearer definitions regarding illegal motorcycle racing and Mat Rempit activities.

Deputy minister Hasbi Habibollah told the Dewan Rakyat that these included offences such as reckless riding, dangerous stunts and illegal racing on public roads.

“The proposed amendments aim to serve as a deterrent to those involved in such activities,” he said, adding that they had been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for a review.

Hasbi was responding to Pang Hok Liong (Labis-GPS) who asked about the ministry’s actions against Mat Rempit, whose dangerous stunts on highways often endanger other road users.

He also said the legislative changes are being supported by ongoing enforcement efforts, including joint operations between the road transport department and police. Public awareness campaigns are also being carried out.

According to Bukit Aman traffic investigation and enforcement department director Yusri Hassan Basri, 2,241 arrests were made nationwide last year to discourage illegal street racing. Most of those detained were aged between 16 and 35.

The Road Transport Act 1987 has been amended multiple times since its introduction, with significant updates in 1988, 1994 and the most recent in 2020.

Amendments to the act were approved in 2022 but the changes were not tabled due to Parliament being dissolved on Oct 10 the same year.