I REFER to the letter by Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, “Stop their recklessness for good” (NST, April 22 ).

I am surprised that of all people, Lee, whom I believe is still working with the Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation and has always been concerned about the treatment of offenders, has welcomed the proposal for whipping and longer jail terms for Mat Rempit.

It is regrettable that in Malaysia, the law-abiding public, law enforcement agencies and legislators still think of nothing but prisons, whipping and hanging as a means of punishing criminals.

Do we really want to send Mat Rempit found guilty of various offences to already overcrowded prisons? While I do not condone their criminal acts and dare-devil stunts, I feel that putting the Mat Rempit behind bars for a long time with whipping is not a positive solution.

Besides turning them into hardened criminals carrying the stigma of a jail term, it will also be a great loss of young human capital for the country.

I feel that the Mat Rempit should be classified as juvenile delinquents and, as such, should be detained for a period of three years at Henry Gurney schools.

There is one such school for boys (in Telok Mas, Malacca) and one for girls (in Batu Gajah), besides a couple more in Sabah and Sarawak.

The government should build more of these schools in view of the increase in the number of juvenile delinquents. These schools should co-ordinate with various government departments and the private sector in providing skills training for the Mat Rempit.

The Mat Rempit have skills to repair and modify motorcycles. Therefore, they should be trained to be mechanics and technicians.

NOR SHAHID MOHD NOR, Petaling Jaya

Source: NST – April 29, 2008