KUCHING: After receiving scores of complaints from road users, Padawan District Police Investigation and Enforcement Division swung into full action on Sunday afternoon.
Their operations which continued into the night managed to nab a youth for reckless driving, apart from seizing five motorcycles and issuing 30 summonses for various traffic-related offences.
Padawan District Police chief, Supt Aidil Bolhassan said members of the public were not only tired of hearing the loud noise that usually went on and on until the early morning hours along the stretches of Padawan roads but were also worried about their safety.
“So we decided to take action against these “Mat Rempit” by holding “Op Samseng Jalanan” starting at 4pm and ended at 10pm Sunday along Matang Road headed by Head of Traffic, Padawan, ASP Muhamad Rizal bin Alias,” said Aidil when speaking to New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
The motorcyclist was arrested under Section 42 (1) of the Road Transport Act for riding a motorcycle in a reckless and dangerous state, he said, adding that upon conviction he is liable to be sentenced to five years jail and fined not less than RM5,000 but not exceeding RM15,000.
He was released on police bail.
During the road block done throughout the operations period, the team of ten police officers and and rank and file together with six members of the police reserve unit checked 85 vehicles.
The five motorcycles seized were due to modification of exhaust which was capable of blasting out loud noise thus causing public disturbance.
Confiscation of the five motorcycles were made under Section 60 of the Road Transport Act 1987. Further inspections were needed on them.
The 30 summonses issued included a number of traffic offences which included expiry of road tax, driving without valid driving licences, modification of vehicles, non-compliance of registration numbers and riding without wearing crash helmet.
Aidil said the operation would continue and urged motorcyclists who have modified their machines to ensure that their motorcycles are back to their original state.
He said the noise from the racing motorcycles along the roads have become a big disturbance to residents staying near the roads who have to put up with the noise pollution.
He said members of the public can report to the police if they knew of such activity in the Padawan areas.
