Experts question Ku Nan's proposal to legalise 'Mat Rempit' racing

KUALA LUMPUR: Road safety experts expressed regret and disbelief over a proposal to legalise 'Mat Rempit' racing.
The experts who spoke to theSun, raised grave concerns on whether the government would take responsibility should bodily injury or loss of lives occur during such races.
Their concerns come in the wake of a proposal earlier this week by Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor to allow bikers to race in certain parts of the capital city to curb the tendency of "Mat Rempits" who speed in residential and commercial areas.
Universiti Sains Malaysia deputy vice-chancellor Professor Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah described the proposal as risky and a disservice to road safety.
"Malaysia as a country that has committed towards the achievement of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety, all initiatives must have safer roads as the aspired outcomes," he told theSun.
Ahmad Farhan, who was formerly a director-general of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research said significant number of motorcycle crashes are associated with speeding and reckless driving compounded by the fact that motorcycles are small and fast.
Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre Associate Professor Dr Hussain Hamid said it is best to consult the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) on the minimum safety requirements such as attire, helmet and road conditions.
"Failure to comply to any of these may lead to serious injury and death. Will the policy maker who allowed this (racing) take full responsibility for any mishap?" he questioned.
Independent road safety consultant Mohd Najeeb Rosli stressed that the authorities should have promoted a road safety agenda rather than assisting youths to 'relief their adrenaline' legally.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said he wants to meet Tengku Adnan over his recent announcement on street racing.
"I believe he has his reasons to propose it. I want to meet him to discuss it," Khalid told reporters at the Bukit Aman police headquarters here.