PASIR GUDANG: Three teenage boys were killed and another was seriously injured in accidents while racing motorcycles in Jalan Delima, Taman Kota Masai, near here.

       Seri Alam police chief Supt Mohd Sohaimi Ishak said the three victims who died were aged between 15 and 16, while the injured victim was 17 years old.

       Initial investigations found that the incident happened at about 10.30pm on Friday night and involved three motorcycles which the victims were all racing or riding pillion, reported Bernama.

       “As a result of the accidents, the victims were thrown off their bikes and landed on the road shoulder and on rocks beside the road,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

       Supt Mohd Sohaimi advised parents to monitor their children’s activities, especially underage children, and not to allow their children to ride motorcycles on roads or engage in illegal motorcycle racing.

       In another case, police detained two men, aged 21 and 22, here on Friday who are believed to be the ones riding motorcycles and doing wheelies seen in a 19-second video that went viral on social media.

       Meanwhile, Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said psychological and educational aspects must also be taken into account in dealing with social issues involving youths.

       “Stakeholders must ensure youth interests are taken into consideration prior to providing social infrastructure,” he said in response to The Star’s front-page report yesterday, with experts calling for inclusive and accessible public space for all to help address social issues among young people.

       The report quoted experts who suggested better urban planning as it would be able to help in mitigating the social illnesses among the younger population.

       Lee said the authorities could provide better facilities for the youth.

       “However, would they be interested?

       “Learning from past experiences with mat rempit, despite being provided with an arena where they can show off their skills, they still went on the roads,” he said in an interview.

       “The adrenaline rush somehow drives the youngsters to do the stunts that can be fatal in public.”

       He suggested that the government and experts look into the psychological aspects of youths who tend to take their “extreme sport” to the road.

       “We need to understand and study their psychology. Why do they prefer to do dangerous stunts in public?” he said, adding that continuous mental support should be given to the young generation.

       Lee said children who were involved in basikal lajak activities would potentially “graduate” as mat rempit, hence prompt research and education must be conducted to mitigate the issue.

       “Parents must also do their part in this as well as better enforcement by the police.

       “Instead of arresting and releasing the kids involved in basikal lajak incidents, they can bring the children to their respective houses and meet the parents while educating them about the dangers of such activities,” he said.