Two young men were arrested after allegedly taking part in an illegal motorcycle race watched by hundreds of spectators in Jalan Padang Garam, Kuala Kedah.
The suspects, aged 20 and 22, were caught during an Op Cegah Samseng Jalanan conducted by Kota Setar police following complaints from residents about illegal racing activities in the area.
Kota Setar district police chief Assistant Commissioner Syed Basri Syed Ali said the pair had allegedly started racing at about 6pm using a Yamaha LC135 and Yamaha Y15Z.
He said both suspects, who worked as a lorry attendant and were unemployed, were arrested during an operation involving 47 officers and personnel from the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Division of the Kota Setar district police headquarters.
“Both were detained after allegedly racing at speeds believed to have exceeded 100kph. We believe they were racing for fun and that no betting was involved,” he said during a press conference at the Kota Setar district police headquarters.
Syed Basri said the location was believed to have become a gathering spot for illegal racers over the past three weeks, mainly because the road was in good condition and offered a straight stretch of about three kilometres.
Police also found that both motorcycles had been modified from their original specifications, including the use of smaller tyres and alterations that lowered and lengthened the motorcycle structures.
One of the suspects had also previously been detained in Seberang Perai, Penang, in May for an offence involving motorcycle modifications.
The two suspects were remanded for one day and are being investigated under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
During the same operation, police inspected 272 motorcycles involving 247 individuals and issued 213 summonses for various traffic offences.
A further 25 motorcycles were seized under Section 64(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for various offences, including modifications to their structures and original specifications that failed to comply with regulations.
