Mat Rempit Woes in Jakarta

In Malaysia, illegal motorcycle riders are called “Mat Rempit” but their counterparts in Indonesia, especially Jakarta, are dubbed “Balap Liar“. In other places, people also call them “Adu Domba” for their actions are more violent where the youths would try to bring down their rivals by kicking at them.

According to Metro Jaya police district traffic chief Ipong Rajawali Isko, illegal motorcycle races here were normally held on weekends between 11pm and 4am, and among the favourite spots were Senayan, Kemayuran and Jalan Panjang.

He told Bernama that the number of those killed in such races were simply too many.

“They like to play hide-and-seek with the police, just like in Malaysia,” Ipong said, adding that police once set up a temporary arena in Jalan Senayan for them but they chose to perform their daredevil stunts elsewhere.

Comprising school leavers and university students, Balap Liar would prowl the streets on modified motorcycles.

A foreign correspondent based here, Mohamed Nasir Yusof, said that the illegal racers would not dare to disturb other road users for fear that the latter would take the law into their own hands and beat them.

“That’s why this kind of antics can only be seen on weekends,” he said.

Petrol station owner, Zulkarnain Samsani, 47, said he started racing at the age of 17 and had lost three friends along the way.

No longer a Balap Liar himself, he still goes to see other Balap Liar in action.

Alung Dayak, 28, a former Balap Liar from Bandar Lambung, Sumatera, said he won several races held in Jakarta, allowing him to open a shop selling motorcycle accessories.

Shahrullizan Rusli (Bernama)