1.

0 Introduction of the Report

This report is written base on the current violent topic in our society nowadays;
‘Mat Rempit’. However, I may not cover all the subtopic under the issue of ‘Mat Rempit’.
I will only cover the main causes of why most of the teenagers in our country resort to
become ‘Mat Rempit’ and I will include some recommendations which I think might be
useful and helpful for our society in order to solve the issues raised or discussed in this
report.

1.1 The report problem(s) / background.

The background of this report is base on the articles and journals on the
main issue; ‘Mat Rempit’. It focuses on the main reasons that lead most of our
teenagers nowadays to become ‘Mat Rempit’, such as:

1.1.1 Peer influence or pressure.

1.1.2 Family with issues.
• Problematic family
• Rich family
• Poor family
1.1.3 Place.
• Racing track
• Low income and Unemployed graduate
1.1.4 Boredom.
• Seeking for honors and reputation.

These sub-topics will be elaborated later in the findings section.

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 1.2 The objective(s) / scope.

1.2.1 To see the main causes why teenagers resort to become ‘Mat Rempit’.
1.2.2 To see the effects from the ‘mat rempit’s’ activities to the society.
1.2.3 And to be able to come out with few possible recommendations to ease the
problems raised under this topic.

1.3 Report design.

This report is written base on the past and the latest newspaper reports and
journals that I found on the issue of ‘Mat Rempit’ or the illegal street racers in Malaysia.
The information’s from the newspaper reports and journals are gathered to match and
achieve the main objectives of this report which are; to see the root of the problems of
what brings our teenagers to become the street racers.

The extracts from the journals are also used to be analyzed and discussed in order
to come out with few possible suggestions to overcome or at least to avoid the problems
from happening again to our future teenagers.

2.0 Presentation and analysis of the findings.

2.1 Introduction

This section will present the findings of the instruments (newspaper reports and
journals) used. The data gathered from the instruments will be divided into four (4) parts
under the research question of what are the main causes why teenagers resort to become
‘Mat Rempit’ to achieve the first objective (1.3.1) in section one (1).

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2.2 The findings

2.2.1 Peer influence or pressure.

According to a police statistic between January to May (2006), most of

these illegal racers were from aged 16 – 25 years old. Rosmaini (2009) said that
peer influence is a major factor which contributes to the involvement of most of
the teenagers in ‘Mat Rempit’ activity.

This sharing activities and experience usually starts at young age where
they are in the stage of knowing the outside world (out of their family) and
wanting to try something new and exciting with their friends. First they just
gathered on the side of the street to see others (the street racers) do the stunts and
then they got close to each other and start trying the stunts themselves and lastly,
they are the ‘star’ of the streets in the eyes of their friends.

This kind of influence usually brought by the problematic friends who

usually have issues in their life or their family.

2.2.2 Family with issues.

• Problematic family

Old people always said that “education starts at home”. From this
statement, we understand that family should involve actively in educating their
family members especially their children in becoming a better person who can
contribute positively to our country and their family.

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 However, in the issue of ‘Mat Rempit’ ASP Rizal Abdul rahman Sidek
(2009) said in an interview to him about the cases involving the illegal racers that
has been increasing these days; “police have no prejudice against this group (mat
rempit).” adding that the police know that most of them are from the family with
problems or issues.

• Rich family

Rich family usually faces a problem with their children when the parents
happen to have too little time for family.

Most of the former street racers who are from a wealthy family claimed
that they were given too much money and freedom by their parents or the one who
cares about them is also one of the factors which contributes to their involvement
in the street racing activity.

They feel that none of their family members who really care about where
and what they are doing when they are out of the house. As long as they never
complain about anything in their family and will be home everyday. Having too
much freedom from family or the one who cares about them.

• Poor family

Not to exclude of the factor of a poor family, Hisyam (2009) quoted in one
of his report, that most of these street racers are of the poor family. He quoted that
one of the former street racer responses that by racing is the only way they (mat
rempit) could think of to get away from the problems and gain their freedom and
respect and honors from peers on the road.

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2.2.3 Place.

• Racing track

The former racing track like the Sepang circuit can be used by the public
with permission. Somehow, this young teenagers don’t really prefer to race at the
legal racing track like Sepang circuit as they claimed that it would rather cost them
a higher expenses to buy a proper attire for their safety as well as the access fee to
use the circuit. Moreover, the circuit was located too far from their place or city.

• Low income and Unemployed graduate

Most of them cannot afford to pay the access fee for the existing race track
like the Sepang circuit, moreover the race track was located too far from their
place and city.

In addition most of them are from the low income earner so it is hard for
them to pay for the racing track access fee and to maintain with their bike
maintenance cost. As we know, the vehicle maintenance cost doesn’t come cheap.

To pay the money for their bet for every race itself is not a small amount,
they will get their money back if they win, but not, if they don’t. Continue their
living with no money can lead them to other crimes such as robbery, snatching
women’s handbags and this may comes in a package of leading to a more serious
crime such as killing without intention.

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 2.2.4 Boredom.

• Seeking for honors and reputation.

Satisfaction and reputation that they seek among the street racers despite of
the prizes offered such as girl and money. Motorcycle street racers in Malaysia are
infamous for their “Superman” and other thrill performance on their motorcycle.
Danger is their pleasure of satisfaction when they can avoid it with some
thrill and nerve wrecking stunt in front of the public.

3.0 Conclusion.

3.1 Introduction

In the third section of this report aims to discuss the negative effects of the illegal
street racers activities could bring to the society.

3.2 Vandalism
Vandalism is one of the effects that I believe these youngsters been doing aside
from racing. According to a police statistic, it shows that there were relatively few cases
in which ‘Mat Rempit’ were involve in crimes like destruction of property or fighting in
which at this point would lead to the effect of gangsterism.

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3.3 Gangsterism

3.3.1 Gang robbery

3.3.2 Street fighting

‘Mat Rempit’ doesn’t come in a form of one group. They would form many
groups or cliques which would have support each of their members in everyway except
when they are running from ‘The Uniforms’ (police). These cliques usually faced crisis
against each other for example: money, women, territory or ethnic of group (Kelantanese,
Selangorian, Perakian, etc). this would cause them to street fight under the certain event in
the public. They would not care if it would involve the public but all they wanted to prove
is that their power, satisfaction and reputation of their group.

So basically this would cause a bad image to our country especially in the eyes of
the tourist who came to have a beautiful vacation with family and friends. How would
they think of our country when they see this? And will they promote or come again for
their holiday after this?

3.4 Violence or aggression

3.3.1 Rape

Rape is one of the serious crimes that this group usually done. They do usually
have girls and money as the winning prize for each race. However, sometimes they tend
to perform a crime by kidnapping innocent girl or women and take turns raping the victim
without having any pity or feeling guilty doing the sin.

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 3.3.2 Murder and Stealing / Snatcher.

Murder an innocence person this day is often happens to women when they were
robbed by snatcher thieves. Early this year, a pregnant woman died two days after falling
from her motorcycle in a snatch theft incident in Batu Pahat, Johor and a day after that,
another pregnant woman died of a same incident in Ketereh, Kelantan. The police Crime
Investigation Department (CID) director, Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Mohd Zinin (2009) said
that the offender of the snatch theft cases are committed by the illegal street racers (mat
rempit) and urged the public to cooperate to catch this trouble makers to decrease the
crimes and ease the social illness in our society.

3.5 Public spaces are turned into racing tracks during the nights

3.4.1 Traffic collisions

3.4.2 Trespassing on private property
3.4.2 Causing chaos in society with their unmannered attitudes

‘Mat rempit’ usually travel in groups and race in bustling city by nights Most of the
motorcycle used by the ‘mat rempit’ do not meet standard specifications or have been modified
extensively for greater speed or just to make the exhaust noisier. Because of the vehicles used in
street racing competitions are generally lack of professional racing safety and the bikers are not
usually trained, injuries and fatalities are common results from accidents.
Furthermore, the illegal street racers put the public users at risk because they race on
public roads rather than the specialized place with purposely built facilities for racing. With their
activities in the public, not just put the innocent user’s life at risk but it would cause all the listed
problems above.

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4.0 Recommendations.
4.1 Build more motor sport circuit for ‘mat rempit’ to show off riding prowess.
This is to make sure no more public road as racing circuit. A part of that,
this type of racing circuit also have to meet the safety standard, professional guide
for standard motorcycle track racing. The responsibility to build the circuit should
fall under the government.

4.2 Organize seminar involving ‘mat rempit’ and both of their parents.
Having this kind of seminar not only can benefit ‘mat rempit’ but also can
educate their parents to take responsibility in letting their children involving in
‘mat rempit’.

4.3 National Service

Get them into national servis, with all kind of training, hopefully can
change their attitude.

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5.0 References

5.1 Website
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mat_Rempit
• http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=329760
• http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/Frontpage/25
61458/Article/index_html
• http://www.mmail.com.my/content/mat-rempit-%E2%80%94-dumb-
and-dumber
• http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/09/18/upm-more-famous-as-mat-
rempit-university-than-research-university/
• http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/56679
• http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?
file=/2006/8/31/nation/15296976&sec=nation
• http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/28835-
national-service-not-suitable-for-mat-rempit-or-vice-versa-
• http://www.dapmalaysia.org/english/2007/oct07/lks/lks4568.htm
• http://ricecooker.kerbau.com/2006/11/10/hishamuddin-rais-mat-
rempit-revisited/
• http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/04/22/abdullah-stop-the-mat-rempit-
culture-of-lawlessness-in-ijok/
• http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/general_opinions/comments/mat_re
mpit_menace_pain_and_shame_tactic_from_rtd.html

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