103 'Mat Rempits' nabbed in George Town

Police detained 103 men and foiled an attempt to hold an illegal race around Persiaran Bayan Mutiara here, during an integrated operation to check 'Mat Rempits' ( daredevil motorcycle racers), early this morning. State Public Order and Traffic Division chief Supt Wan Aziz Wan Husin said the six-hour operation, involving police personnel and officers from the Penang Police Contingent Headquarters, State Road Transport Department and the Department of Environment, ended at 6.30am. "Realising the presence of enforcement personnel, several 'Mat Rempits' tried to escape by riding against traffic and by attempting to run down enforcement personnel, but their efforts failed as the area had been cordoned," he told reporters here, today. He said the Mat Rempit, aged in their 20s and 30s, were taken to the Marine Police Base in Batu Uban for further check, and urine tests found them positive on drugs. He said 63 summonses and 32 inspection notices were also issued for numerous traffic offences such as modifying vehicles not according to specifications and using small motorcycle number plates. A total 23 motorcycles were also seized after their riders could not produce their licences to ride motorcycles and due to expired road taxes.