‘The “Mat Rempit” culture can only be curbed via a long-term strategy of educating children about road safety from as early as primary school.’ – Shahrol Yuzy, Ex-MotoGP racer
When driving in Kuching, or on Sarawak’s roads in general, the vehicles I instinctively watch out for are heavy trucks, lorries and buses. Their sheer size and weight mean that any collision involving them is likely to end in tragedy.
Whenever I have to overtake one or travel alongside one, I become extra cautious because I know that even the slightest mistake can have devastating consequences.
Driving in Kuala Lumpur or on many highways in Peninsular Malaysia, however, presents a different danger altogether. Ironically, it is not heavy vehicles that concern me the most. It is reckless motorcyclists.
Over the years, motorcycles have become one of the greatest hazards on Malaysian roads—not because motorcycles themselves are dangerous, but because far too many riders choose to ignore traffic laws and basic road discipline.
Among the most reckless behaviours commonly witnessed are excessive speeding, weaving dangerously between lanes, overtaking on the left, riding on emergency lanes, ignoring traffic lights, cutting abruptly into other vehicles’ paths, riding against the flow of traffic, performing dangerous stunts, participating in illegal racing, and travelling in large convoys with little regard for other road users.
Many riders also tailgate larger vehicles, squeeze through impossibly narrow gaps during traffic jams, use mobile phones while riding, or carry passengers without proper safety precautions. These actions leave motorists with little or no time to react when something goes wrong.
Unlike drivers, who are protected by steel frames, airbags and seat belts, motorcyclists have virtually no protection. A split-second lapse in judgement can cost them their lives. Worse still, their reckless behaviour often places innocent motorists, pedestrians and fellow riders in grave danger.
That is why I found Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Dato Sri Hasbullah Ali’s recent remarks refreshingly candid. He spoke a truth that many Malaysians have long recognised but are sometimes reluctant to say openly.
His admission that enforcement alone cannot stop reckless road behaviour deserves serious attention.
According to Hasbullah, accidents involving motorcyclists are often linked not merely to weak enforcement but also to the attitudes and mindset of some riders. Many deliberately flout traffic regulations for the thrill of it, to impress their peers, or simply because they believe they are above the law.
Sadly, he is absolutely right.
His comments came following the horrific accident on the East Coast Expressway involving a convoy of Yamaha RXZ motorcycles that claimed four lives and left 20 others injured. The tragedy once again highlighted how quickly recklessness can turn a recreational ride into a national headline.
As Hasbullah rightly pointed out, such incidents do not affect only the riders themselves. Innocent motorists may suffer injuries, damage to their vehicles, emotional trauma or even death through no fault of their own.
Roads are shared public spaces. Every road user has both rights and responsibilities.
For years, the authorities have organised special operations, roadblocks and enforcement campaigns. Thousands of summonses have been issued. Illegal racers have been arrested. Dangerous motorcycles have been seized.
Yet the same dangerous behaviour continues. This suggests that enforcement, while necessary, addresses only the symptoms rather than the underlying problem. The deeper issue lies in the culture surrounding certain groups of motorcyclists.
For some young riders, dangerous riding has somehow become a badge of honour. Social media has made matters worse by rewarding reckless behaviour with likes, shares and online fame. Videos of illegal racing, high-speed rides and dangerous stunts are uploaded almost daily, encouraging others to imitate them.
Peer pressure is another powerful influence. Young riders often feel compelled to prove their courage by taking unnecessary risks, especially during convoy rides, where individual judgement is easily overwhelmed by group mentality.
This is precisely why Hasbullah stressed that parents, schools, families and the wider community must become part of the solution.
Road safety education should begin long before someone obtains a driving or riding licence. Respect for traffic laws, patience, courtesy and consideration for others must be taught from childhood and reinforced throughout life.
Parents, in particular, should not simply hand over motorcycles to teenagers without ensuring they possess the maturity to handle both the machine and the responsibility that comes with it.
Schools should incorporate stronger road safety programmes into their curricula. Community organisations, employers, motorcycle clubs and social media influencers can likewise help reshape attitudes by promoting responsible riding instead of glorifying recklessness.
Ultimately, road safety is not just a policing issue. It is a societal issue. No amount of enforcement can compensate for a complete disregard for human life.
When the country’s top traffic police officer openly acknowledges that attitude and mindset are the real problems, Malaysians should listen carefully.
His honesty deserves praise rather than criticism.
Unless riders themselves choose responsibility over recklessness, and unless society collectively rejects a dangerous road culture, we should sadly expect more fatal headlines, more grieving families and more innocent victims.
That is a price no civilised society should ever be willing to pay.
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DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.
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The teen driver who caused this horrific accident at Stutong, Kuching, was sent to reform school. Photo: Sarawak Tribune
