130 people arrested for illegal street racing. Women and cash among prizes for winner

Over the weekend, the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) busted an illegal street race operation. According to reports, women and cash were among the prizes up for grabs for winners of the drag-style race.

A Harian Metro report revealed that the street race is held every week along the North-South Highway near the Skudai toll plaza, southbound.

60 PDRM officers along with help from the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the Department of Environment (JAS) launched the operation between 2 am to 4 am on Saturday after a month-long observation.

During the operation, PDRM arrested six drag racers aged between 22 and 25, as well as 105 men and 19 women aged between 18 and 45 who were present as spectators. One racer and two spectators were also tested positive for drugs.

Johor police chief, Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat told Harian Metro initial investigations revealed that cash and women were among the prizes of the illegal street race, adding that investigations are still ongoing.

Thanks to a month-long observation, police were able to learn that races were conducted along the stretch each weekend between 1 am to 4 am. To prevent errant road users from ruining the fun, race organisers also brazenly close off the roads.

Kamarul Zaman further revealed that the race would be flagged off by ‘track girls’, the participants would drag race their highly-modified cars between 700 and 900 metres to determine the winner.

PDRM also believes that the race is part of a larger syndicate and investigations are underway to nab the main mastermind.

During the operation, codenamed Operasi Samseng Jalanan, police had parked a bus across the lanes creating a police dragnet to close off any exit route along the highway. This was how PDRM managed to successfully nab all participants present for the race.

Kamarul Zaman also highlighted that spectators were given drug tests before they were freed on police bail. He also added that PDRM views illegal street racing seriously as it involves the lives of other road users.

All six racers were arrested under Section 42 of the Penal Code as well as Section 42(1) and Section 81 of the Road Transport Act 1987.