Mat, 20, thought it would be just another ordinary night out with friends. Riding his Yamaha LC135, he made the 48-kilometre journey from Rantau Panjang to Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra (LTSIP), a place where he and others often gathered to relax and spend time together.
Earlier that evening, Mat and his friends had stopped for a meal in Pasir Pekan, Tumpat, before heading to the airport’s departure area. For them, it was simply a place to hang out, chat, and enjoy the night air. There were no plans beyond that, just a casual meet-up among friends.
But the night quickly took an unexpected turn.
Without warning, officers from the Road Transport Department (JPJ) arrived as part of a joint enforcement operation. What began as a relaxed gathering suddenly became tense as authorities approached the group and inspected their motorcycles, according to a report by Kosmo!.
Mat was among those stopped.
During the checks, multiple offences were discovered. He later admitted that he did not have a valid driving licence and that his road tax had expired. As a result, he received more than 10 summonses for various violations, including extreme modifications, according to an official statement by JPJ Kelantan.
A total of 205 cars at the scene were also inspected.
Reflecting on the incident, Mat said he had no idea that an operation would be carried out that night. What he expected to be a carefree outing turned into a costly lesson. He also shared that he had spent over RM3,000 modifying his motorcycle, an investment that now stood in stark contrast to the penalties he faced.
For Mat, the experience served as a reminder that even routine outings can have serious consequences when rules are overlooked.
Earlier, Transport Minister Anthony Loke ordered an immediate crackdown on rempit activities at LTSIP, describing them as embarrassing, especially after the government had allocated a large budget to upgrade the airport.
He added that the dangerous activities in front of the new terminal’s departure hall not only put public safety at risk but also threatened the state’s security and economy.
Also read: Anthony Loke Invites Oriental Kopi Founder to Expand to Transport Hubs Nationwide After KLIA Outlet
