Proposal to make Mat Rempit a national heritage instead of ‘bak kut teh’ elicits plenty of guffaws online
AS the bak kut teh a.k.a. herbal pork rib soup national heritage food controversy rumbles on, a netizen has posited a humourous suggestion – let’s bestow the same award onto Malaysia’s very own Mat Rempit!
For the uninitiated, Mat Rempit is pretty much a Malaysian slang for notorious youngsters who participate in hooliganism and illegal activities such as street racing, stunt biking, petty crime and public disturbance using a motorcycle.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter), user @thelast_demigod made the sarcastic suggestion that Malaysia celebrates its unique contribution with two-wheeled shenanigans.
Ini yang sepatutnya disenaraikan dalam Warisan Kebangsaan Malaysia, bukan Bak Kut Teh.
Betul tidak, @ikatanmuslimin?
The short and sweet post was accompanied by a sight many Malaysian road users will be familiar with – a young daredevil doing the ‘superman’ stunt in broad daylight on the expressway oblivious to the risk he poses to himself and other motorists.
The tongue-in-cheek post elicited plenty of loud guffaws and similar mirthful comments. Here is a sample:
Give that these Mat Rempit have been terrorising Malaysian roads for the longest time, some netizens commented that their stunt should be recognised as a “traditional sport”.
Some went on to suggest that PMX (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) should do his bit to encourage this breed of road users by subsidising them with a petrol allowance in the quest to promote Malaysian motoring sports.
Some wished this was recognised as an Olympic event.
Alluding to the Chinese New Village fiasco, another netizen claimed these Mat Rempit, too, should be recognised as a unique facet of the Malaysian landscape and be recognised by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as “a heritage phenomenon”.
Some regarded these aspiring stuntmen as a national treasure that needed to be protected and nurtured for they are the nation’s future leaders.
Another netizen also suggested that apart from UNESCO, Malaysia should be reaching out to UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) to recognise the special young talents on their basikal lajak (fixed-gear bicycles that have been heavily modified to include shortened handle-bars and stem or plastic sports rims).
In plain and simple words – sans irony – one netizen neatly summed up the point of the post.
It has to be said that amidst all the polemic and chest beating among politicians over the bak kut teh issue, the above post does make a very succinct point.
Why celebrate something that a good portion of society view as abhorrent? Malaysians might as well celebrate other ‘national traits’ that the country has become renowned for, right? – March 7, 2024
Mat Rempits are definitely part of Malaysia's cultural heritage.
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