KUALA LUMPUR: The antics of a group of “mat rempit” on city roads were foiled in an Op Selamat 25 integrated operation at several hotspots from yesterday until early this morning.
The operation was conducted in two phases. The first covered Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Ipoh heading towards Chow Kit and Jalan Ipoh towards Sentul, while the second focused on Jalan Raja Laut, a known weekend hotspot for motorcyclists.
During the 10pm to 4am operation, several riders turned aggressive after spotting enforcement officers at the scene.
Some attempted to flee, colliding with enforcement vehicles before abandoning their motorcycles and escaping.
Several riders executed sharp U-turns to escape, prompting immediate action from officers.
Among those detained was a 17-year-old identified as Lim from Setapak. He admitted to not having a driving licence and said he was planning on applying for one soon.
"I was riding my father’s motorcycle, just going out on a Saturday night with friends. We usually race around Puchong.
"The motorcycle was previously modified at a cost of up to RM7,000 but has since been returned to stock standard. I used my father’s money for everything.
“My father doesn’t know I came here because he was asleep. I didn’t want to disturb him,” he said.
He added that there was a motorcycle community in his residential area that frequently gathered before heading out in convoys.
Another teenager, Arsyad, 19, from Pantai Dalam, also admitted he did not have a driving licence and had previously faced action for illegal racing.
"I borrowed a friend’s motorcycle. I sell kuih in Bangsar. My previous motorcycle was confiscated for illegal racing at Dataran Merdeka.
“Tonight, I borrowed my friend’s motorcycle to hang out. The offence was using a ‘fancy’ number plate and not having a front licence plate,” he said.
The operation was conducted in collaboration with the Kuala Lumpur Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department, the Environment Department, the Road Transport Department and the National Anti-Drug Agency.
The integrated enforcement targeted various traffic offences, including riding without a valid driving licence, registration number violations and motorcycle modifications that failed to comply with specifications.
Date: 2026-03-04T01:10:00Z
Sources: Op Selamat 25 foils ‘mat rempit’ in city crackdown