PETALING JAYA: Overcoming the mat rempit menace requires more than just heavier penalties.

Instead, mandatory rehabilitation, road safety education and even parental accountability are needed, say experts.

Habitual or violent offenders should face mandatory jail terms, with their machines seized and disposed of, says criminologist Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy.

If the offenders are underage, their parents or guardians should also be held accountable, he said.

“While the Road Transport Act (Act 333) provides for steep penalties, these measures appear insufficient,” said Sundramoorthy, who is with Universiti Sains Malaysia.

He said court-ordered rehabi­litation focusing on behavioural changes and safe riding practices as well as mandatory community service should be introduced.

The police, he said, should have artificial intelligence-driven traffic monitoring and closed circuit televisions in known hotspots.

“Crackdowns can be carried out on workshops that perform illegal modifications,” he said, adding that organisers of illegal races and ringleaders should be arrested.

Road safety expert Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua said penalties must target education and not just punishment.

He suggested that offenders be made to attend mandatory community safety campaigns or work in trauma wards.

“This could give them a firsthand view of the consequences of irresponsible riding. They should not be given back their licence until they meet these conditions,” said Law, who heads the Road Safety Research Centre at Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Engineering Faculty.

He said repeat offenders should have their machines seized and be banned from buying bikes.

Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, president of the the motorcycle club Wheel of Charity, said that while responsible riding starts early, most of these issues occur due to factors such as education, poverty, a sense of responsibility and employment status.

She proposed free or subsidised safe riding courses for motorcyclists.

Those riding in groups, she said, must make it a point to inform the nearest police station of their routes.

“Marshalls should be employed, allowing adherence to safety precautions, speed limits and time management.

“First aid skills should be part of the criteria when obtaining a motorcycle licence,” added Dr Sharifa Ezat, who is also dean of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s School of Liberal Studies.

Road Safety Council of Malaysia executive council member Datuk Suret Singh urged the authorities to go all out in curbing mat rempit activities.

“Their risky behaviour, including speeding, beating red traffic lights and lane shifting, invite more danger on the road. They must be heavily penalised,” he said.

“More often than not, the mat rempit use illegally modified motorcycles,” he said.

“The law allows their motorcycles to be seized and auctioned,” he added.

Under Act 333, those charged with reckless or dangerous driving can be jailed for not more than five years and fined not less than RM5,000 and not more than RM15,000.

For the second and subsequent offence, they can be jailed for not more than 10 years and fined not less than RM10,000 and not more than RM20,000.

The offender will also lose his licence for not less than two years for the first offence and for up to 10 years in subsequent offences.

Those charged with careless and inconsiderate driving can be fined up to RM4,000 and no more than RM10,000 and also be jailed up to a year.

Probationary licence holders will have their licences revoked upon conviction.

So far, though, no mat rempit has been given a heavy custodial sentence.

This article first appeared on The Star.