Sunday, February 25, 2007

"Mat Rempit" culture



What is Mat Rempit culture? This is what I quoted from the Wikipedia.

A Mat Rempit is a Malaysian term for 'an individual who participates in illegal street racing', usually involving underbone motorcycles (Kapcai) or scooters. Minah Rempit can refer to either the female counterpart, or a female companion of a Mat Rempit. Not all Mat Rempits involve in street racing, some of them just ride their motorcycle's dangerously on public roads. Mat Rempits usually travel in groups and race in bustling city centres on weekend nights. As of recently, Mat Rempits have been linked to gangsterism, gang robbing, fighting, vandalism, thefts and bullying. Most motorcycles used by the Mat Rempits do not meet standard specifications, or have been modified extensively. Additionally, some Mat Rempit do not have valid licenses, do not pay road taxes, and ride stolen motorcycles. More and more housing estates were turned into racing tracks. It is estimated that there are about 200,000 Mat Rempits in Malaysia. The terms of Mat Rempit also used in Singapore and Indonesia for the same reason.

Why they want to do such dangerous act? Fun, or want to have something that can pump up their adrenaline? I have no idea.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

What I think is, they are the low-income and dependent people. They work long hour for little pay and need others to help out. When they are on the road, they are hero (they think they are!) and drawing immediate attention from the public makes them feel good. But, when they see police road block, hero turns to zero.