Malaysia can be superbikers’ hub

PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday the government was prepared to consider requests to reduce import duty, road tax and insurance premiums for superbikes.

He also said he would consider giving permits to local motorcycle assemblers to assemble superbikes as currently, superbikes were fully imported.

"We will give these requests due consideration," he said at the close of the 1Malaysia Bike Week (1MBW) at the grounds of the Palace of Justice here.

Earlier, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the executive chairman of the Superbikers Association of Malaysia (SAM), had put forward the requests, saying it would give more people the chance to own superbikes.

Najib said he did not think any other Asean country had this many superbikers and that Malaysia had the potential to become a hub for such riders in the region.

“I regard this as the start to a future where there will be many more superbikers,” he said.

Present were Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Putrajaya Corporation chairman Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat and SAM president Datuk Abdul Halim Suleiman.

Najib believed the 1MBW convoy expedition by 438 riders, which started on Tuesday, could help change public perception of superbikers as being an elitist group.

This was because during the 1,828km journey around the peninsula starting from Johor, the convoy also carried out social work including visiting the sick and helping the poor, and doing cleaning-up work.

“This has been a meaningful contribution to the local communities. It shows that this group (superbikers) is also among citizens who love their country, who want to serve society and to contribute to national well-being,” he said.

Najib said the convoy participants could also see some new aspects and dimension of the country, making them loving it even more.

He said these included the good network of roads built by the government, balanced development between the rural and urban areas, peace and harmony among the multiracial populace, and the natural, green environment.

“I think seeing all these will make us appreciate and love our country more, make us want to contribute to it and protect what we have inherited all this while, so that we as the new generation will strive together with the government to create a brighter future for ourselves and the nation,” he said.

Najib said he hoped the 1MBW would be an annual affair with Putrajaya remaining as the final destination.