The weekend will not be complete without visiting ‘Merdeka Square’ (Freedom Square). Fellow compatriots can be found at this place, ready with their vehicles. Tonight is like every weekend night before it, which begins at Merdeka Square and moves towards Jalan Raja Laut, passing by Sogo, the shopping complex, Jalan Chow Kit, with Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman become the designated area to show off one’s prowess and maleness.
Having completed the ‘battle’, those that have succeeded are declared ‘genuine men’ and they will receive a reward which can be likened to the ‘arena of male prowess’; Even sexy women are declared as ‘Apam’ or ‘Bohsia’ (terms used to describe loafers), with a small amount of prize money.
“Ah! To hell with what people have got to say, I am proud to be Mat Rempit (a term used for daring reckless motorcyclists). My soul is that of Mat Rempit. My parents foam at the mouth scolding me. My bones are broken in pieces. With such a soul, even if I land in hospital, on being discharged, I will return to it again. What can they say?” (quotes from the admission of Pak Tam, a leader of Mat Rempit, which was articles in the magazine, The Edge in November 2005).
According to Pak Tam, during Independence Day and New Year, Mat-Mat Rempit are proud to travel in a convoy to Port Dickson and Pangkor Island. During vacation time they also enjoy creating problems such as quarrelling and consuming alcohol to the point of having sex.
It is difficult to stop such. They are proud of becoming such. They do not care about others, and when in a fix, no matter what the obstacle is, everything is cast aside. It has been often reported in the newspapers that they knock down people. Even the Sultan of Pahang was almost butted down! It has also been often reported in the newspapers that Mat Rempit has died on the streets as a result of his antics. Ah! Says Pak Lam – “Who cares! The soul of Mat Rempit will continue.”
The public, ministers, even the Prime Minister and Sultan, all hate them. The most angered is the police, who are responsible for observing them. Keeping track of them is not easy. Just a mistake over the date and lives are lost as a result of them.
Episodes of these daredevils have become hot topics, to the extent that there are some who want to transform these ‘Mat-Rempits’ into ‘Mat Cemerlang’ (from bums to worthy people). However, Pak Tam replied, “Who cares what they have got to say”. The heart and soul of Mat Rempit will continue.
As a result of such, it was reported in the newspaper that “eight men and women, ages from 15 to 19 taking part in an expedition were held at a hotel. In the raid which took place at 4 am, eight youths were found sleeping in a state of drunkenness in two hotel rooms at Lumut.
The second room was occupied by two male youths, aged 18, and two female youths aged 18 and 15, all in a drunken state. It appears that there was also an accusation by the management of Teluk Muroh Mosque that “some of the group members submerged themselves in the ablution pool of the mosque.”
It appears that they cannot be reformed at all. Quarrelling, drinking, sex; all seem to be the life of “Hell’s Angels”, the well known motorcyclist group in America, which has been involved in drug abuse activities such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, free sex, and their trademark of habitually knocking down people. The same can be said here, where these people are known to knock one another down themselves, as happened in Baling, Kedah. Two died, with two injured – they don’t seem to care about living, so much so that the police have proposed to the government to amend the law or to introduce new laws so that the police can confiscate these stubborn motorcyclists.
Once again the reply was, “Who cares what people have to say. It is part of our nature.” There was an occasion where all newspapers highlighted Mat Rempit activities on their front pages. Some even had headlines calling upon the authorities to introduce harsh punishments on these people if they did not repent.
The popularity of Mat Rempit has risen greatly. Incident after incident is viewed with concern. One even involved a person who went to the aid of a fallen motorcyclist being beaten up. After beating him up they then went on to destroy the person’s car. They are also known to become snatchers. This has added to public hatred for these people.
Criminal statistics throughout the country for the period January to October, 2006, issued by the Chief of Police here shows a rise of 12.57 percent, meaning 170,481 cases in comparison to 151,444 cases during the same period of time last year. He said that from this total 4,414 cases involved juveniles and 1,436 cases were students. These included cases involving Mat Rempits, which is on the rise.
However, these ‘hell angels’ are reported to have expressed their feelings by saying that the government did not provide them with a lawful racetrack to race on. Even if there was one, it was situated too far out and was costly for them to use, as most of them earned low wages, or were still at school. They added that there were too many restrictions with words such as ‘No’ or ‘Haram’ concerning their lives. They consider their lives to be contained and confined. Such is the turmoil that exists within them.
However, these are not excuses to permit them to behave in such a manner. They should be conscious that they have years ahead of them. They bear the burden of responsibility to in supporting the future of this country and their race, so that it is highly viewed by other races. The wasting of precious time through useless activities generated by the mind will only produce a bleak picture of what lies ahead for this country.
There is no such thing as not being able to do so. Pak Tam and his followers need to ‘take care over what others have got to say’. It does not matter whether he is a Mat Rempit original or not, the future of the country requires attention. |
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