"mat rempit" issues require immediate and efficient approach
Slicing through the traffic in high speed, massive convoy ruling the streets and many more breath taking action done by “mat rempit”. It have haunting all of us since 1980’s. Since we didn’t stop them 20 years back, now they’ve outrun us. Recently, they dare to terrorize and snatched our citizen without having any guilt or shame. They’ve seems to be getting worst each days and that leaves our government counter measures outdated. Despite their criminal record acceleration they also have grow in number up to 200 000 people, mentioned Datuk Halimah binti Mohd Sadiqueby, on 24 JUN 2009 in Malaysia parliament. Hence, these issues should be addressed urgently by introducing an alternative strategy, reconsidering our law and impact approach.
The crime rate that over flood our statistics nowadays often linked to “mat rempit”, so there should be an appropriate solution to these criminal or so called “mat rempit”. Our policy today in criminal issues would be deterrence policing, but it have failed for 20 years. A well constructed policing like the “problem oriented policing” would be a breakthrough to “mat rempit” issues. This being proved by operation ceasefire using the “problem oriented policing” which been directed by Professor David M. Kennedy, Harvard professor that solely aimed to reduced reduce serious juvenile and gang violence in Boston have declined the gun assault by 70 percent in two years. Despite the policy revolution, our government should also re-examine the UN recommendation in criminal justice reform guidelines. This is because UN Congresses on Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders is lined up by experts in criminologists, penologists, and senior police officers as well as experts in criminal law, human rights, and rehabilitation which could guide us into the right step in the right time.
Next, a cutting edge reforming law and punishment could take over the problem at the root. “mat rempit” is classified as social problem at first and turned into criminal problem. So reconsidering our law and punishment would be a catalysed in curbing “ mat rempit” problem. The punishment under road transport act 1987 is maximum rm5000 fine and 5 years of imprisonment. There are a lot of suggestions that we should amend this law for a better one. Taking a perfect example is changing it to remodel the civilian conservation corps introduced by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the great depression era. Imposing these can act as a program that reconstruct the mentality of “mat rempit” by having them living in camps, wore uniforms, and lived under quasi-military discipline. However a proper action should also be taken to those who support “mat rempit” by supplying racing parts or illegal parts for their motorcycle. Stopping the supply means stopping the buyers. When the parts are rarely found the number of “mat rempit” would be reduce vastly. As Khairy Jamaluddin mention in a tv programmed “called point of view” on ntv7, the solution in “mat rempit” issues is taking down the clan head down first. Thus, the remaining follower will vanished in a matter of time.
As a “finissage” or finishing of the steps taken to overcome “mat rempit” problem we could also have an impact approaches. These rebellious “mat rempit” is also a human. Which mean that they would response to the approaches of other human. Having them back into the society would be an impact to civilian for our own sake. “Beat the Heat” is a program introduced in south florida which drastically cut down the amount of drag racing on the Florida streets, while also fostering a better relationship between racers and officers. This is by having a monthly racing between the cops and civilian. In the same time they would be attracted to the drag strip rather than the streets. Such events would be a good way to approach those problematic “mat rempit”. After that we could try the Project E.R.A.S.E introduced by Ontario police. The primary goal is "To change poor driver behaviour through education and strategic enforcement." This can only be done to all of us by having critical approach. Some speech wouldn’t do the trick but we can try advertise it while the “beat the heat” like event. By having them more comfortable and not experiencing outrages pressure it could motivate “mat rempit” not to street racing. Education would be the best elixir in all problem including “mat rempit” issues.
At the end of the day, we can’t afford to have another people die in the hand of snatch thief or our children hit by these thugs. An immediate action should be taken addressed by our responsible body or this thing will just be the beginning of their era. Throughout research made by having alternative strategy that could reform our criminal justice policies, reconsidering our law as well our punishment and an impact approach towards “mat rempit”. Our so called solutions have failed to overcome their problem for twenty years. We can put a full stop to the long story since their existence in 1980’s if we act today. As we usually used phrases like “action speaks louder than word”, it’s about time to make this idea to be implemented.
Reference list:
http://www.hks.harvard.edu/criminaljustice/research/bgp.htm
http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/pubs/gun_violence/profile21.html
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/United-Nations/Social-and-Humanitarian-Assistance-CRIME-PREVENTION-AND-CRIMINAL-JUSTICE.html
http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache:X2hUdh4SzpMJ:www.parlimen.gov.my/opindex/pdf/24%2520JUN%25202009%2520new.pdf+polis+anggaran+jumlah+mat+rempit+200000&hl=en&gl=my
http://rempitbmcs.blogspot.com/search/label/3%3A-%20Definisi%20Rempit
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/02/beat-the-heat-florida-police-battling-street-racing-by-racin/
http://www.police.york.on.ca/erase/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_Conservation_Corps
