I’m glad the NST has given some attention to the matter.
In one article, debates abound as to who the real Mat Rempit is, with some quarters denouncing the others as degenerate impostors :P and trying to present themselves as the clean Mat Rempit – drug free, law abiding, hailing back to the 80’s, etc.
Well, if these supposedly clean guys can establish themselves as the guiding light of the phenomenon, I’d be all for it.
Meanwhile, the feature piece also offers some decent insight into Mat Rempitism (or so it appears to an ignoramus like me).
The most disturbing bits include the way one member openly admitted that drugs were frequently used to instil bravery.
Some race demons go a step further by injecting themselves with drugs before getting onto their machines.
“If you want to ride through traffic at speeds exceeding 160kph, you must have guts,” said Khalid.
“And for that, the best thing to do is to get so high that you become fearless.”
Not real is it, drug-induced courage?
Equally disturbing is the way women are used as some sort of commodity in these things, prizes to be bet, inferiors to leech money off and such.
(One Mat Rempit’s girlfriend) even lends him money when he is broke, which happens often as he spends most of his wages on his motorcycle.
“If I don’t win a race, I would be broke for the rest of the month.”
It is not unusual to hear of Mat Rempit betting their bikes or girlfriends on a race.
According to Sam, 22, an illegal racer from Shah Alam, women were sometimes part of the prize, depending on the size of the race.
“Sometimes racers bet more than they can afford as they are confident that they can win. When they lose, they force their girlfriends to ‘settle’ their debts,” he said.
Unthinkably demeaning :( I wonder if the gender activists would be interested in taking this matter up.
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Putera Umno chairman Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim isn’t completely off his rocker. Aside from their ok charity events, there’s also this:
Azeez said Putera Umno would approach Mat Rempit and help them change for the better under its Second Chance Programme. “These youths failed to continue their studies, due to lack of interest or lack of money.”
Over 1,200 of them are now enrolled in engineering courses at Tekad Auto College in Kajang.Those with language skills are sent to Kolej Damansara Utama for Hotel Management and Catering courses.
Fair enough – I wouldn’t hesitate to give credit where credit is due. (Although I hope I don’t have to be a Mat Rempit to get a second chance?)
Datuk Azeez blows a lot of credit away pretty fast though.
Azeez said roads could be closed for organised Mat Rempit races.
“Many roads are closed for pasar malam. Why can’t we close the roads for our Mat Rempit once a week?”
“I know that there have been suggestions to allow them to race in Sepang and Batu Tiga, but that is not feasible because of the distance and not many people would turn up to watch.”
:| How desperate are these guys?!??
But finelah, if they think they will win more voters than they will lose for BN by closing down roads (for racing! :| ), go right ahead.
But if they want to do their thing in Sepang or Batu Tiga, I got no objection man. And hey, look at how many people show up for car racing – don’t worry Datuk, build it and they will come.
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Photo-op: Saudara Khairy is right there man along with Datuk Azeez, front and center. Vroom vroom!! Better be careful what I say though, wait Khairy say the Chinese will take advantage of Umno’s weakness and demand an end to road closures for motorcycle racing.
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politikus has a great post on this too :)
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