Despite numerous operations by the police against the use of modified bicycles for joyrides, the dangerous trend has persisted.
Today, the trend took a turn for the worse when eight schoolboys died after a car rammed into them and their friends in Johor Bahru at 3am this morning.
At a press conference Johor Bahru Selatan police chief, ACP Sulaiman Salleh said the eight who died were among 16 accident victims who were using modified bicycles.
Sulaiman said the use of the modified bicycles – in which the brakes are often removed and smaller wheels used – was illegal.
“Such bicycles are used for joyrides in the wee hours of the morning because cyclists think there are no cars around at that time.”
Sulaiman said the police were constantly taking action against those using such bicycles and carried out 28 operations last year in which 37 modified bicycles were confiscated.
“From Jan 2017 to now, we have carried out five operations and confiscated 17 modified bicycles.”
He urged parents, especially those with children aged 10 to 18 to watch over them and make sure they did not go out late at night.
“We are not pinning the blame on anyone, but we advise everyone to abide by the law. It is an offence to modify bicycles.”
He added that a summons can be issued for the use of modified bicycles and that parents could also face action for negligence if they left their child unsupervised.
Sulaiman pointed out that under Section 33 of the Child Act, parents can be fined up to RM5,000 and jailed up to two years or both for negligence.
On the accident, Sulaiman revealed that two victims were in critical condition and another six were injured.
He said the driver who rammed into the boys was coming from the direction of Taman Pelangi to Skudai, and the road from that direction sloped upwards and then downwards.
This, he said was why the driver could not avoid the boys. He added investigations were still underway.
Earlier today, it was reported a car rammed into a group of 16 teenagers who were cycling along the Middle Ring Road in Johor Bahru.
Six of them died on the spot while two others died on the way to the Hospital Sultanah Aminah.
State education director Shaharudin Sharif confirmed that the eight who died were:
1. Muhammad Firdauz Danish M. Azahar, 16, from SMK Damai Jaya
2. Mohammad Azrie Danish Zulkefli, 14, SMK Tan Sri Mohamad Rahmat
3. Haizad Kasrin, 16, SMK Permas Jaya
4. Muhammad Shahrul Nizam Maruddin, 14, SMK Tan Sri Mohamad Rahmat
5. Fauzan Halmijah, 13, SMK Desa Cemerlang
6. Muhamad Shahrul Izzwan Azzuraimee, 15, SMK Dato Abdul Rahman Yasin
7. Mohamad Azhar Amir, 16, SMK Permas Jaya
8. Muhammad Harith Iskandar Abdullah, 14, SMA Swasta Pasir Gudang