Robbery by Mat Rempits at SS17 on 23/04/2009 at 7am

From: Amanjeet Singh [mailto:amanjeet@streamyx.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 28 April, 2009 8:17 AM
To: SJAlert@yahoogroups.comSubject:
SEIZE IT! - Mat Rempits

With the current spate of Mat Rempit robberies, it is a relief to see today 's Sunday Star headline "Seize it!". The authorities, the Police represented by the IGP and the Road Transport Department represented by the Transport Minister are finally getting their act together.

Measures that are proposed include:

• Joint operations by the Police and RTD at various locations
• Seizing the motorcycles
• Summoning the registered owners if riders are underage or without valid licenses
• Those caught would be fined or jailed
• After a long slumber by the authorities, this is a good start but I doubt if it is enough.

Before I share what else that is required, I'l share what happened to my family at 7am on Thursday, 23rd April 2009.
My car was parked outside my house in SS 17, Subang Jaya. While my wife, sister and I were entering the car, we attacked by a group of Mat Rempits. There were more than 10 motorcycles with most of them with pillion riders. The pillion riders alighted and they conducted a clinical operation. They broke in 3 groups and attacked us separately. They seized the handbags and mobiles from the ladies. Then they went for the gold chains and frisked their hands for bangles. As for me, the only male in the group, a few of them keep me busy with punches and kicks. They had almost started using their crash helmets on me when their leader made his call and they rode off. They were so methodical and calculating that they had earlier detained the newspaper man who was doing his rounds to prevent him raising the alarm.

All in all, we lost 2 gold chains, 2 bangles, 2 mobiles and considerable cash. My sister, an Australian national was carrying Australian Dollars. All 3 of us were badly cut and bruised. However the psychological impact is more severe. The ladies can still feel the hands on their neck and the aura of a safe neighborhood is forever shattered. We now are in a constant state of apprehension and fear. Always looking over the shoulder.

The following are some of my observations and suggestions that the Minister and IGP could possibly adopt:

• The same gang prowled in the same are a day earlier at the same time (about 7am) and they robbed people. The police confirm that reports were lodged. However, no proactive measures were taken by the police to avert a similar incident
• A few minutes before we were robbed, they attacked another resident. This resident called the police but no patrol car was sent. There was no immediate response.
  Immediately after robbing us, they attacked and robbed the deaf and mute girl in the Shell Shell Station in SS 17.
• No efforts were taken to secure the CCTV until almost 1.30pm. If their photos are available, why were they are not flashed in the media
  Immediately after being attacked, I called the Balai Polis Subang Jaya 3 times. No response
• In my report, I offered information that I think was critical, ie. my newspaper man was stopped by this gang from warning us and about the resident who called the balai. No efforts were made by the police to find out their names or addresses. What if identification was required?
• No national coherent plan to address this menace. By a coherent plan, it would entail raising the intelligence on such gangs. This could be done by surveillance or infiltration.

This plan must be cascaded right down to the police districts and the mata-mata
Tabs should be kept of these mat rempits and they should kept under surveillance and followed
Use modern technology to track these guys.

• The plan would include measures to hurt these Mat Rempits where it would hurt them the most - impounding their motorbikes (this has been addressed by the IGP / Minister)
• Legislation may have to be passed to address this menace. There is no whiff of this at all.
• These guys are biking, racing, drinking and shooting drugs at night. How difficult would it to detect these gangs and take action
• Test them for drugs and drink driving. This is more important that merely arresting them for illegal racing.
• Frisk them regularly
• Get the public involved.
• If we do not address this menace, these 20 aged something are going to grow up and create more problems for the country.
• There was considerable foreign currency that was robbed. No efforts were made to alert money changers. When this was pointed out to the police, they said that the money changers are not cooperative
• The patrol cars must show its presence on the streets throughout the day. I see many cars parked in the balai always
• Free up policeman from escort duties . I am sure the PM, the VVIPs and the royals could do with less escorts
• Free up policemen from traffic warden duties. Use retired policemen for traffic warden duties during peak hours.

There are a few perceptions that should be addressed and dispelled.
They are:

• After being patronized xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, there seems to be a general perception that these Mat Rempits are xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx.
  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
• There is a perception that the police is not serious in addressing this menace.
  What we would to see that the Minister of Home Affairs and the Police develop a holistic and coherent plan to address this Mat Rempit menace. This plan should include KPIs at the national level and operational KPIs that are cascaded down to every police district, right down to the mata-mata. For the police districts, there should strategies in place to achieve these KPIs. In addition, a score card must be kept and shared with the public.

Amanjeet Singh
Subang Jaya