http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=...5304&sec=nationFriday October 5, 2007
Superbikers slammed
KOTA BARU: Superbikers have been slammed by Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu for lashing out at him even before he could meet them over his proposal to ban such bikers from expressways.
Describing them as self-centred hell-riders, Samy Vellu said they should not have spoken out before actually sitting down for a detailed discussion on the proposal.
He repeated his assertion that superbikers were endangering their own lives besides that of other road users when they speed on expressways and sometimes hog the road.
"They do not pay toll at our expressways or highways, yet they behave like kings of the roads," he said after attending a briefing on road projects for Kelantan. .
No way: Superbikers from FT and Selangor protesting against the proposal to ban them from highways.
Samy Vellu said he had received complaints from motorists about superbikers misbehaving on expressways.
He said his vehicle had often been overtaken by superbikers riding at over 180kph which was way above the speed limit.
"I call on the police to nab these speedsters," Samy Vellu said.
Asked about proposals to build alternative motorcycle lanes on expressways or highways, Samy Vellu said the country's highways or expressways were not built to accommodate such modifications.
He was responding to statements made by superbikers and politicians, including the likes of Deputy Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Perlis Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim who questioned the rationale of the proposal.
In Petaling Jaya, Motorcycle Association of Federal Territory and Selangor Committee chairman Eric Yong said if the Government banned superbikers from using the expressways, they might as well not sell the motorbikes.
"We can't possibly ride on trunk roads because superbikes are not designed for such roads," he said.
His argument was supported by bikers from other motorcycle clubs.
"Do they expect us to ride at our backyards?" Wan Azuar Datuk Wan Daud, an honorary consul, asked.
PMXM Venture Sdn Bhd general manager John Tan, said about 600 such bikes were approved to be imported annually by a handful of dealers.
According to him, riders of such bikes were usually aged 45 and above and were successful businessmen and professionals such as doctors and lawyers.
question:
how does he know those bikers are doing more than 180?he did that himself on the road eh?