KUALA LUMPUR: Weekends and holidays attract many to enjoy the city's sights and sounds, but they're also attracting another crowd that's young and dangerous.
The Mat Rempit menace is back in the heart of the city.
These motorcyclists, often in groups, have been riding dangerously on Kuala Lumpur's streets at night, blaring their horns, revving their engines, racing and engaging in dangerous stunts, posing a risk to other motorists.
Videos of these Mat Rempit in action in the city centre have gone viral, and some of them are now streaming their antics live on TikTok.
The New Sunday Times (NST) recently went to the ground to some of the Mat Rempit hotspots in Kuala Lumpur, including Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Ampang, Jalan Kinabalu, Jalan Kuching and Lebuhraya Sultan Iskandar.
Just before midnight, groups of Mat Rempit were observed racing or pulling off stunts on these roads. Some of them even behaved aggressively towards other road users.
They are not the only problem.
Many motorists and motorcyclists are also stopping at the side of the road to watch the Mat Rempit in action, and even post videos of them on TikTok.
City Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department Chief, Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa acknowledged the Mat Rempit menace was a problem, especially on Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Raja Laut.
He said this was despite near-daily roadblocks and operations which led to arrests and motorcycle seizures.
"We have special teams to monitor and act against these illegal racers and bystanders," he said.
"Sometimes they (undercover officers) will linger around to gather information and this helps us plan the next operation."
Zamzuri said one of the challenges they faced was that the city was home to many "rat lanes" and closing them off would require a large number of boots on the ground.