Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Government Backbenchers Club Chairman Datuk Masiung Banah wants Sabah MotoDay organisers to tighten conditions and instil civic values in its future editions.
Masiung said he supported the motorsport event, which drew tens of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts from across Borneo but said it needed better discipline and stricter requirements.
He said the programme clearly appealed to young people who enjoy motorcycle convoys, but it drew criticism after the latest edition at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex in Likas.
Reports put attendance at more than 70,000 riders from Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Labuan who filled the complex for lucky draw prizes.
Masiung was optimistic the event could become a tourist attraction but said it should also promote civic values and welfare, including blood donation drives for participants.
He added that police could carry out random urine tests on riders.
“Although the organisers took traffic into account, there are allegations that stall operators and participants left rubbish strewn across the site.
“Some also claim the conditions were too lax, allowing many participants and roadside traders who were foreign nationals without identification and motorcycle licences to take part,” he said.
He proposed that future organisers work with the Road Transport Department (RTD), police, the Immigration Department and district councils. This would ensure only riders with valid insurance, road tax and identification documents could take part.
Masiung believes the RTD can offer free physical safety checks on motorcycles, including licences and road tax, while the Immigration Department can inspect riders’ identification documents.
He added that district councils should provide cleanliness facilities for traders and participants at the event site.
