KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Habitual illegal road racers and Mat Rempits will face whipping under proposed amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987.

Federal Traffic chief Senior Asst Comm II Datuk Hamza Taib warned that once the amendments became law, they may be given three strokes of the rotan.

Those who are underage could face up to 100 hours of community service under the supervision of the Welfare Department.

Currently, police charge those involved in illegal racing under Section 42 (1) of the Act, which carries a maximum RM15,000 fine or not more than five years' jail, and a two-year suspension of the driving licence.

Under the proposed Section 42 (A), illegal racers can be jailed for up to five years and fined not less than RM5,000, and have their licences suspended for three years for a first offence.

"The penalty for second-time offenders would be a minimum of 10 years' jail, three strokes of the rotan, not less than RM10,000 fine, and not less than a five-year suspension of the driving licence," SAC Hamza told reporters after Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan launched the Public Bank-police safety campaign, to address the Mat Rempit problem among youths, in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

A proposed Section 42 (A)(B) would also allow the police to seize the motorcycles used and for the machines to be disposed of once a conviction is obtained.

However, a proposal to take action against spectators under the same Act was rejected by the committee chaired by the Transport Ministry.

SAC Hamza said police would also take action against organisers of illegal racing under existing preventive laws.