KUALA LUMPUR: The 21 teenagers, who were punished by traffic police officers for riding bicycles dangerously and failing to comply with road regulations on New Year's Eve, were aged between 14 and 17.
City Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department chief, Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa, said the teenagers were found to have committed offences such as riding bicycles without brakes, bells, or lights, and engaging in dangerous racing behaviour.
He also said that while actions could be taken against them under the Traffic Rules (Rule 42) and Section 112 of the Road Transport Act 1987, alternative approaches of issuing warnings and educating the teenagers were opted for to prevent them from repeating the offences.
He added that the incident happened on Dec 31, 2024, at around 11.30pm during a joint operation with the Road Transport Department and the Immigration Department at Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Kuala Lumpur.
"They were made to voluntarily perform squats as a penalty and apologise to the officers at the roadblock. The group was then dispersed with a reminder not to ride the bicycles again and to return home immediately. The punishment of squats and apologies was considered a more constructive way of dealing with the teenagers rather than taking formal legal action. This approach indirectly serves as a reminder to the group of teenagers not to repeat the offence," he said in a statement.
He added that such advocacy also raises awareness and helps young offenders understand traffic laws better, giving them a chance to reform and avoid making the same mistakes in the future.
He also reminded the youth to refrain from committing traffic offences and riding dangerously to prevent injuries or fatalities.
"Parents and guardians are also urged to be more vigilant and monitor their children to ensure they do not engage in any activities that violate the law," he said.
Earlier today, a video on social media went viral, showing a group of teenagers being punished with squats by traffic police officers. In the video, more than 20 male teenagers were seen performing the punishment while being observed by several traffic police officers.