Thursday September 14, 2006

Mat Rempit ‘untameable’

The attempt of Putera Umno to “tame” the 8,000 or so Mat and Minah Rempit was marred over the weekend when some of them misbehaved and purportedly indulged in vice, fights and brought shame to a mosque.

Harian Metro reported that some Minah Rempit wore revealing clothes in the mosque compound and at the Muslim graveyard when they came to clean up the area.

They were participating in the Putera Motor Merdeka Expedition Kuala-Lumpur-Teluk Batik 2006.

Some of the Mat and Minah Rempit in the group also jumped into the Teluk Muroh’s masjid’s kolah (water storage pond) that was meant for ablution for worshippers before prayers.

Even though the locals admonished the group for their improper behaviour, this was ignored. The mosque committee then lodged a complaint with the Manjung District Religious Office (PAIDM).

PAIDM enforcement officer Mohd Zainuddin Mohamed Zaini confirmed with Harian Metro that his office had received the complaint.

In addition, he said, PAIDM also received numerous other complaints about this group of 8,000 or so Mat and Minah Rempit who were in Teluk Batik on Sept 9 and Sept 10.

He said some had checked into a hotel with males and females sharing the same room. He said they claimed that they decided to rent a room because it was not so comfortable camping by the beach.

The newspaper also contacted Putera Umno head Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim on the incident. He said he had not received any report of wrongdoing and believed it did not happen.

He said the group of 8,000 were tightly controlled by 100 or so Rela members, and that the 7,700 male participants were put in camps along the beach, while the 300 or so females were placed in motels.

Utusan Malaysia in its Bisik Bisik column said with the Government also controlling the price of fine sugar, in addition to coarse sugar, it was hoped that supply of the commodity would return to normal.

The columnist said the 10 sen difference between the two types of sugar should not compel the millers to manipulate the Government or consumers.

The editorial said this was the first time in the country’s history where supply had become so scarce, and consumers were allowed to buy only one kg per person.

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