By WANI MUTHIAH
KLANG: Senator Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has slammed youths who become Mat Rempit and issued them a stern warning.
“Do not take the law in your hands,” the Women, Family and Community Development Minister told a press conference after attending a community programme at Taman Sri Menegun here on Sunday.
She added youths who were Mat Rempit have now become a serious menace as they were involved in crimes such as robbery, rape and molestation.
“They have even taken to harassing disabled people,” said a visibly angry Shahrizat referring to the case of deaf and mute women who was assaulted and robbed by Mat Rempit last week which was highlighted by The Star on Sunday.
In the incident, a big group of Mat Rempit had surrounded the 23-year-old woman at a petrol kiosk at 7.00pm on the said day. The group, who was unperturbed with the presence of other patrons and kiosk employees, had slapped and kicked the victim before making off with her handbag.
Shahrizat said it was time the Mat Rempit was duly dealt with given that the authorities had taken the soft approach to help the youths by even carrying out studies to understand them.
“Now, the police must institute the severest of action against the Mat Rempit,” she said.
“There should not be any compromise in dealing with them. They say they become Mat Rempit because they are bored. Why break the law just because they are bored?”
A government institute research revealed that 48 % of the youths polled said they became Mat Rempit out of boredom.
Shahrizat also questioned the role of the youths’ family members in ensuring that their children did not resort to becoming Mat Rempit.
Shahrizat said parents must play a pivotal role in ascertaining that their children did not resort to participating in anti-social and unlawful activities.
On another matter, Shahrizat said that her ministry was seriously re-examining the methods of dispensing aid to the needy.
She said some of them did not have bank accounts while there were those who were unable to collect the money on their own and did not have anyone to help them.
She said a solution will be sought to ensure that the welfare payments reached such recipients.
Source: Sunday Star, 26 April 2009
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