Mat rempit to face jail and heavier penalties from Nov 1
Mat rempit caught racing on Malaysian roads will soon be looking at a lot more than a fine. The Road Transport Department (JPJ) says the amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), which include tougher penalties for illegal racing, are set to come into force on 1 November 2026.
The amendments have already been approved by Parliament, and are now just waiting to be gazetted by the Attorney-General’s Chambers before they can be enforced. JPJ senior enforcement director Datuk Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan said this will give the department and the police more power to act against those involved in illegal racing and dangerous riding.
“The amendments to Act 333 have been approved by Parliament and if all goes well, it will be enforced from Nov 1.
We will impose much heavier penalties, including imprisonment, for Mat Rempit offences.
Under Section 42(a) of the Road Transport Act, the amendments will also make it easier for investigating officers to take action.” – Datuk Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan, Senior Enforcement Director of JPJ.
At the heart of the changes is a new Section 42(a), which makes it an offence for anyone to take part in a race or speed trial between two or more motor vehicles. First-time offenders can be fined between RM2,000 and RM10,000, jailed for up to two years, or both. For those caught again, the penalties go up considerably, with fines of between RM5,000 and RM20,000, up to five years in jail, or both.
Beyond the mat rempit crackdown, the wider Act 333 amendments cover 42 clauses across 11 areas, making them some of the most extensive changes to the law in recent years. These include higher fines for serious and repeat offences, as well as wider use of digital enforcement tools such as Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.
For now, it’s worth keeping an eye out for the official gazette, as the 1 November date depends on it being published in time.
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