Mahu pengiktirafan, pengaruh rakan tarik remaja ke lumba haram

Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid, a criminology professor at Universiti Malaya, asserts that peer pressure and the desire for recognition are factors that can lead teenagers to engage in illegal street racing. Rather than relying solely on arrests and punishment, she emphasizes the importance of intervention, education, and rehabilitation to prevent young people from seeking validation through dangerous activities and using public roads as their playground.

"Relying solely on arrests and punishment only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause of the problem," Haezreena told FMT. She further explains that heavier penalties may not deter such behavior from recurring. Haezreena highlights the role of families, schools, and communities in monitoring risky behaviors among teenagers at an earlier stage.

She cites the case of a 15-year-old believed to be involved in illegal street racing in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, which has reignited concerns about the loss of young lives in dangerous activities. The president of Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim), Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin, also acknowledges that street racing is influenced by peer pressure, the desire for recognition, and a culture of taking risks.

He argues that open roads cannot be the playground, as the risk is not borne solely by racers but also involves other road users. Fahmi suggests that regular enforcement operations are inadequate and proposes implementing pilot projects in high-risk areas to approach risky teenage groups. He believes that family involvement is crucial for underage participants, while the success of a program should be measured by changes in behavior and a reduction in street racing incidents, not just the number of participants.

"The foundation of the program needs to reach the most difficult-to-approach youth, not just those who already know how to seek out these programs," he states.