The Putrajaya MP said this was to provide Mat Motor with entertainment as they could not afford other forms of entertainment.

“We give them shows, jamming sessions, a chance to enjoy themselves because they can’t afford (other forms of) entertainment,” he said after launching DBKL’s planning guidebooks for the public here today.

He also said many did not understand the Mat Motor issue, stressing that he did because he had “walked the streets.”

The Umno MP also said that since he had previously allowed a city car race to take place in Kuala Lumpur, he would also do the same about allowing motorcycle races.

Commenting on how he pitied Mat Motor who were poor, he asked, “How would you feel? I don’t know about you people, I have a heart.”

He said he would discuss the issue with the Transport Ministry, police and JPJ while lamenting how racing syndicates were using girls and money as prizes for Mat Motor racers.

“I can’t take it. It is promoting zina (unlawful sex),” he said.

He also remarked how residents in Cheras, Sentul and Kepong had complained of illegal races and explained, “I am not legalising it, I’m just providing them a space.”

He said that if the bikers could race legally, Mat Motor who then continued to race near residential areas, would be caught.

Yesterday, Tengku Adnan told Federal Territory MPs that the proposal to hold motorcycle races on city streets was to combat illegal betting that was part and parcel of the “Mat Rempit” culture.

He said he faced harsh feedback from mostly Opposition MPs in Kuala Lumpur, who argued that legalising street races would not curtail betting in any way.