Foul!

As published in Malay Mail today HARESH SAYS By Haresh Deol HE slaps on a helmet, with hardly any padding within, and does not see the need to buckle up. In shorts and slippers, he sits on his bike — minus rear view mirrors — and goes full throttle paying little attention to his surroundings. Sounds like a Mat Rempit on a kap chai? Not exactly. Even those who own high-powered machines are guilty of such practices. Why is it that motorcyclists, riding on big or small bikes, generally disregard safety? Some say suiting up is an expensive affair despite cheaper alternatives. Others blame it on our weather, saying it’s too hot to wear jacket and gloves while there are those who don’t see the need to wear such attire due to the short riding distance. Then there are those who say they are mocked by their peers when they suit up — this is especially so among those who ride small bikes. But the disregard of such safety and bad riding practices has contributed to the la...

As published in Malay Mail today HARESH SAYS By Haresh Deol PEST, menace, imbecile and bodoh . These are among the words often uttered by drivers when a motorcycle zooms past them. Don’t get me wrong. I am a biker myself. I’ve been riding motorcycles ever since I left school and still do. On two wheels, it’s not about completing a journey but about enjoying an adventure. There are motorcyclists, including those on high-powered machines, who deserve a knock on their heads (and I’m being polite) for failing to respect other motorists. Respect, however, works both ways. Motorcyclists in Malaysia are often treated as “second-class citizens” as many drivers tend to disregard the fact those on two wheels have every right to be on the road as other motorists. Drivers complain of bikers who zig-zag dangerously and rempit where possible. But many forget that a motorcyclist is as important as the politician in a luxurious sedan, the clerk in a compact car, the cyclist o...

Haresh Says as published in Malay Mail today He was in his shorts and a pair of slippers. A sling bag hung lowly across his body. Strapped loosely on his head was an MS88 helmet, a favourite among those riding his type of motorcycle. He zoomed past traffic with confidence despite missing by inches the side mirrors of several vehicles. He could be a decently-paid designer working in a publication company or an engineering student at a university. But in the eyes of many, the rider is presumed to be a Mat Rempit. Then there was this middle-aged man. His German-made sedan had a Bar Council emblem plastered next to his number plate. He found it convenient to push other motorists off the road, believing the fast lane of the North-South Expressway belonged to him. He continuously flashed his lights from a distance as his actions screamed “get the hell out of my way”. He then cut from the fast lane to the left-most lane before heading back to where he came from, all within seconds. Many ...