Penang Chief Police Officer Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain has provided some good news for Penangites yesterday, that the continuous enforcement and monitoring by Penang police and other enforcement agencies has made Penang free from large-scale illegal racing activities organised by mat rempit (illegal motorcycle racers). This follows the accident on July 17, where five men were killed and two motorcyclists seriously injured on the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, suspected to be involved in illegal racing.
However, the public wants a permanent solution to remove the scourge of Mat Rempits from our roads. The danger posed by Mat Rempits and protecting the public requires severe penalties as heavy as drunk driving. To date, the Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong has still refused to state why he has discriminated against drunk driving by imposing penalties on drunk driving twice as heavy as those on Mat Rempit.
In fact, Wee had boasted of his achievement in 2020 of increased penalties of death caused by reckless or dangerous driving under Section 41 of the Road Transport Act 1987 to a fine of RM50,000 and/or a five to 10 year jail sentence. Subsequent offences will carry a RM50,000 to RM100,000 fine and a maximum jail term of 15 years.
However, I had asked Wee to explain why heavier penalties imposed for drunk drivers causing death are double that of the jail sentence imposed on Mat Rempits. Lest Wee has forgotten, he had also imposed in 2020 harsher penalties in under section 44 for causing death by those driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs to a fine of between RM50,000 to RM100,000 and a minimum of 10 years /or a maximum of 15 years in jail for the first offence. For a subsequent offence, the jail sentence will be between 15 to 20 years and the maximum fine will further be increased to RM150,000.
Under Section 44(1A), the penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the extent of causing injury without death have been increased to RM50,000 and/or a seven to 10 year jail term, whilst a subsequent offence carries a RM50,000 to RM100,000 fine and a 10 to 15 year jail term. This 7-10 year jail term for drunk driving that does not cause death is even heavier than the penalties under section 41 which involves death due to reckless or dangerous driving. Those driving while intoxicated or on drugs face a maximum fine of RM30,000 and/or a maximum jail term of two years under section 45A.
There is no similar provision imposing such harsh penalties for those involved in illegal racing by Mat Rempits compared to that imposed on drunk driving. Wee should listen to public opinion who want harsher penalties on illegal racing by Mat Rempits who are a menace and danger to public safety similar to the penalties imposed on drunk driving. Wee must stop the double-standards in dispensing harsh punishment on drunk driving but treat Mat Rempits leniently.