The kapchai menace must be stopped

George Thomas, New Straits Times 

Reports of objections to the Federal Territories Minister’s proposal to ban small motorcycles from the streets of Kuala Lumpur are off-target. On the contrary, such a ban will be welcomed by the millions who live and work in the city. Why?

First, nobody feels safe when motorcyclists are around, except the motorcyclists themselves. Women, especially, cringe at their sight. Even drivers of four-wheeled vehicles are harassed and forced to brake suddenly to avoid hitting them. A recent video on social media showed a motorcyclist swerving dangerously in front of a heavy vehicle, crashing and then being run over.

Second, traffic rules seemingly do not apply to motorcyclists. They ignore traffic lights, no-entry signs and other rules, perhaps because they can evade the law so easily.

Third, thousands of pedestrians using walkways are menaced daily by motorcyclists who ride on the same walkways at speed and in any direction they please. I have not seen a single motorcyclist booked for this offence.

Fourth, snatch thieves love the motorcycle, referred to as kapchai, as it best suits their modus operandi, whether working alone or in pairs.

Fifth, pollution. Random comments are made that all vehicles pollute and motorcycles are not the worst culprits. That needs to be proven. One needs to look not only at the vehicle size, but also their numbers, and the noise pollution emitted. Surprisingly, I have not seen reports on urban pollution in Malaysia. In order to truly appreciate the situation at street level, those who have not already done so, should take public transport for a day. Personal experience of the walking stretch would be a far more impactful experience than third-party stories. Efforts to further encourage the use of public transport will be frustrated if the motorcycle situation continues.

Sixth, parking. For motorcyclists, parking is free. They park their machines everywhere, on pedestrian walkways and five-foot paths. These are among the “hard” reasons why nobody will shed a tear for the disappearance of the kapchai from our streets.

There are other “soft” reasons that argue against small motorcycles on city streets, such as comparative costs. While petrol consumption may be low, there are repair and parking costs, which would make taking the bus cheaper. Do not wait for our public transport system to catch up before implementing the ban. What needs to be done is to change the habits and mindset of motorcycle users. This requires not only pull, but also push measures enforced in tandem with the expansion of public transport.

On a recent visit to Athens, Budapest and Warsaw, capital cities of three middle-income countries like Malaysia, what struck me the most was the absence of motorcycles on their roads. These eastern and southern European cities, aspiring to be developed and civilised, have prioritised the people’s health and comfort. Malaysia should do the same.

Let us not be ruled by a vocal minority. Put aside politics and business interests, and consider what the majority of people want. We hope the government can be firm on this.