The initiative by a
group of bikers
to launch an advocacy group seems a good idea. Rempit United is the
name and its president who is a businessman and former motorcyclist
is targeting an estimated 600,000 youths in the peninsula who are
involved in illegal activities such as riding without licences,
illegal racing and petty crime. That is a big number of youths and we
do hope he and his group will succeed.
As always, caution is in
order. The public would not want to dampen the spirit and good
intentions of the group but I guess starting small would be ideal.
Ultimately of course we want every youth who has been labelled as a
mat rempit to be back in the fold of society. The president of the
group, Wazi Abdul Hamid acknowledges that due to the stigma, there is
a tendency to become aggressive as a way of expressing one's
existence in society. That is the main thrust of these youths, trying
to find recognition. Most probably that unwanted or unrecognised
feeling developed from their childhood and school days, built up
through their adolescence with the help of like minded friends.
When one feels isolated
and unrecognised, the person will gravitate to those who are willing
to lend an ear to listen to their problems and dreams. Theirs is in
essence an ordinary normal world but so happened misunderstood by
others in their family or school. They seek solace in others and
illegal racing is just an outlet to give voice to that frustration
while managing to gain points in the eyes of their peers. Any illegal
activity will gain them a higher standing in the group and the
transition from petty crimes to other illegal activities might be too
tempting to resist.
The almost non-existent
support from family and other friends spurs them towards the negative
side of life. We do hope that if and when Rempit United becomes a
reality, these youths would reconsider their options. The thrills and
spills would still be there but in an approved environment. Some
might find it too rigid and formal being a member of such an
organised group but we would never know until it has really reached
its target. The lost youths of our nation.
Image from mrbadak
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