Malaysia Update

KLANG: The police must get tough with the Mat Rempit, Women, Fa mily and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shah rizat Abdul Jalil said.

She said the authorities had in the past taken the soft approach to help these youths by carrying out studies to understand them.


Fun time: Shahrizat playing with children of Tadika Perpaduan Taman Sri Menegun in Klang yesterday after attending a community function. — Bernama
Now the kid gloves must come off when and the Mat Rempit menace duly dealt with, Shahrizat said.

“There should not be any compromise in dealing with them. They say they become Mat Rempit because they are bored. Why break the law just because you are bored?” she said.

A government-instituted research revealed that 48% of the youths polled said they became Mat Rempit out of boredom.

Shahrizat also questioned the role of the youths’ family members in ensuring that their children did not resort to becoming Mat Rempit.

“Where are their parents? Parents should not wash their hands of the children and hope the authorities would deal with them,” she said.

Shahrizat, who slammed the violent actions of the Mat Rempit youths, said parents must play a pivotal role in making sure their children did resort to anti-social and unlawful activities.

“Do not take the law in your hands,” Shahrizat told a press conference after attending a community programme at Taman Sri Menegun here yesterday.

She added the Mat Rempit menace had evolved into a serious social ill as they were now involved in crimes such as robbery, rape and molestation.

They have even taken to harassing disabled people, said a visibly angry Shahrizat, referring to the case of a deaf-mute woman who was assaulted and robbed by Mat Rempit last week. The matter was highlighted in The Star yesterday.

In the incident, a group of Mat Rempit had surrounded the 23-year-old at a petrol kiosk and had slapped and kicked the victim before robbing her of her handbag. The presence of other patrons and kiosk employees did not deter the Mat Rempit.

On another matter, Shahrizat said her ministry was seriously re-examining the methods of dispensing aid to the needy.

She said some did not have bank accounts while there were also those who were not able to collect the money on their own and did not have anyone to help them.