JPJ Penang hands 'saman' to workshops which are cutting brakes of motorcycles

Apparently, cutting of the brakes is a popular modification amongst 'mat rempits' as it makes their motorcycles accelerate faster.

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) is always trying to crack down on illegal motorcycling racing activities in this country, and it's good to see that they have started to clamp down on workshops that help these street racers carry out their illegal activities.

It has been reported that the Penang Road Transport Department (JPJ) has issued 66 summons notices to five workshops believed to be illegally modifying motorcycles around the North East and South West areas.

Picture credit: Bernama

Its director Adenan Md Isa said through the Workshop Ops, his party had inspected five workshops and found that 24 motorcycles found there committed various offences related to modifying motorcycles.

"Through inspections at five workshops, a total of 66 summons notices were issued involving 30 offences, namely installing 'tayar sotong', changing the exhaust, installing speed control devices, changing the engine system, changing the swing arm and others," he told Bernama reporters.

The two-hour operation was conducted by 120 officers and members of the JPJ, the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), the Ministry of Domestic Trade (KPDN) and the Penang City Council (MBPP).

The JPJ director said summons notice was issued in accordance with Section 6 and Section 59 of the Road Transport Act 1987 and workshop operators and motorcycle owners were directed to fix all modified motorcycles to standard.

He also advised the owners of the workshops to stop illegally modifying motorcycles to ensure that illegal racing or racing activities are not carried out by 'mat rempit' gangs.

"Our inspection even found that one of the popular modifications involves cutting the motorcycle's brakes to increase engine speed because when the motorcycle brakes are removed, friction does not occur on the tires and it allows the engine to have faster acceleration," he said.

He said the motorcycle workshop in Jalan Gudwara, Penang is often the spot for gangs to modify motorcycles illegally, which is why they keep 'raiding' the area and even handed out some 'samans' to the workshops for the same offences last year.