Does your boyfriend or husband rides a motorcycle and takes you along as a pillion rider? If he does, try this little dialogue on him.
Tell him to imagine a tall Swarovski Crystal Vase. It’s rare, it’s precious, it’s the only one of its kind in the world and it costs over $10,000. It does not come in any packaging at all but now he is tasked to transport it from one place to another.
Ask him what he would do. Would he strap it on the back of his motorcycle? Or would he take a cab and cuddle it safely in his arms to the destination?
I’m sure anybody transporting such a cargo would have the common sense to take it in a cab.
Now ask him, if he knows that such a precious thing is not meant to be transported on a motorcycle, then why does he put you on it?
Are you not rare, precious and only one of its kind in this world too? Are you not worth as much to him that you can be placed on the rear end an object zooming down the street at 90km/h? Don’t you deserve to be cuddled safely to your destination too instead of just being placed behind his back?
I’m writing about this because as I flipped the papers today, there was YET another story of a couple being involved in a motorcycle accident. There are just too many of it happening these days. Somehow I feel that today’s parents take it very lightly that the lives of their daughters are out there in the hands of a young motorcycle punk.
The rider in the report today escaped with only minor injuries and was treated as an outpatient. His female pillion rider was pronounced dead at the scene.
Yes, death is a tragedy. But sometimes, I consider it lucky when people die from a motorcycle accident. It could be worse. They could have survived, only to live life like a vegetable or moving around with no limbs on a wheelchair for the rest of their lives.
If a man truly loves a woman, he wouldn’t put her on a motorcycle.
Yes, I know what some readers might be thinking. I have written about the trend of young lads buying cars while getting into 10-year installment plans and huge amounts of debt. But yet here I am demonizing motorcyclists too?
If you notice, it’s not the car that I’m berating, but the habit of our youngsters today, especially the Malays, who have the natural tendency to buy something on installment – be it cars, motorcycles or whatever luxury that they deem necessary. That was the real issue when talking about cars. It was financial. But the issue on motorcycles is more than just that. It’s about life. Think before doing.
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I so very much agree wth u on this issue...
ReplyDeletea husband or boyfriend takes you on a motorbike becos thats much he can afford. if you want to be more safe go on a bicycle. let the poor guy grow up and save some money and the more kids they get they get a bigger vehicle
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of complete rubbish.
ReplyDeleteBzzzzzt! Wrong!
ReplyDeleteA pillon rides by CHOICE, not by force. My wife is worth far more to me than a $10,000.00 piece of glass.
I hold her life in my hands, every time I ride with her. I am careful and considerate of her at all times.
I crashed with her once, in 2000, while her mother lay dying in a hospital. I was okay but she was rushed to the hospital. Thankfully, she was okay, as well. But boy did I worry. It was then I realized what precious cargo really was. Shortly thereafter I asked her to marry me.
But I must insist, being my pillon was HER Choice. HER decision. I am not her master, she is not my slave.
She now owns two motorcycles. I worry far more about her riding than being pillion with me.
Rev. Thumper
A very touching comparison indeed. I must admit it brings a tear to my eyes.
ReplyDeleteAn article did come out in Berita Harian before about the high number of Malay females who die as pillion riders in Singapore.
With motorcycle, it does not matter. EVEN if you are careful, if someone else is not, in any collision, the motorcycle will come out the loser.
If a car makes a mistake, it might just have a scratch. But in colission with that car, you might lose your girl or wife.
It is very much safer to put that vase on the back of a motorcycle and ride the bike no faster than 15Mph to the destination than to cuddle it in a cab that is going 50Mph to the destination. Think about it. The seriousness of most accidents is related to a great many variables. Some are controllable, such as the vehicle type. But the majority are not. Would you expect the vase to have a better chance of survival in a 30Mph trip in a cab that was driven by someone who had 6 months of experience driving a cab, or on the back of a motorcycle going 30Mph ridden by an experienced driver that had 30 years of riding experience?
ReplyDeleteYou clearly have no understanding of vehicle accidents. Your very last line - "If a CAR makes a mistake" just says it all. When do cars drive themselves? A car in the hands of an inexperienced driver is 100 times more dangerous than a motorcycle in the hands of an experienced rider. You just don't want to believe that driver skill has anything to do with the chances of having an accident. And there is no wonder in that, since driving is regarded by most people as some sort of right that they have, so therefore most people want to believe that they can never in their lifetime be an unskilled, terrible driver. In most jurisdictions people fight tooth and nail the idea of yearly testing of driving skill that is serious, through testing, or restricting people who do not have driving skill. Very few jurisdictions restrict drivers who are old, even though the medical community has said it is a fact that your reflexes decline with age. In the United States when they catch a drunk driver all they usually do is fine them and take away their license - no jail time is involved, despite the fact that study after study in the US says that most drunk drivers who lose their licenses merely continue to drive illegally - without a license. Effectively the laws are assuming that a drunk has as much driving skill as a sober person.
Your attitude to accidents is disgusting and as long as you continue to propose the idea that all drivers are equal, and the fault is merely in the machines that they drive, your simply telling people to not take responsibility to learn how to be better drivers.
What difference does it make? You allow them to beat you and generally treat you slike sh*t anyway? Hell, it's *right there* in your little [un]holy book!
ReplyDeleteThe comparison with a crystal vase is not a good one. The vase doesn't enjoy what it does. It is an object to transport from one place to another. My wife rides pillion with me (her choice) because she loves it. She gets something out of it, and we both feel the risks (which are much less than you suggest, by the way) are worth it. You have clearly never ridden a motorcycle.
ReplyDeleteTo Mat rempit - u stressed on the issue of affordability..what we are focusing on is safety..but i'm a fair person so i will suggest taking a public transport then..its affordable and 99% more safety than being a pillion a bike.done.
ReplyDeleteTo anonymous 1 - a load of complete rubbish? please don't give your rubbish comment without having the dignity to justify your opinion.A load of crap coming from a person with no identity..try beating that ppl..haha!
To Thumper - there you go thumper..now do u realised how precious ur wife's life is after meeting with the accident..sure its her choice but are you telling me that YOU, being her man whose duty is to protect her from harm will happily allowed her to make her own decision or maybe a wrong decision which will affect her lifespan..think abt it =)
To Ted - what you have explained does make sense but what u failed to dwell upon is the probabilty and the risk factor of getting into an accident with either vehicles. U see, for a car if the driver is inexperienced, his chance of getting into an accident is higher as compared to an experienced drive but the same can't be said for a motorcyclist. Whether you are a skilled rider or not the probability and risk factor is pretty much equal.If the rider is so good in handling his bike he/she might still get swerved or knocked down by other bigger vehicles..u might want to ask that the same thing can also happen to a car but let me ask you in terms of vulnerability, who has the higher chance of survival..there you go...
to frank - no comment..obviously u got some relationship issues to resolve..go consult a counsellor or mediator or something..
Finally to rich b - believe me, at the end of the day we people are in reality an object of a transportation whether we love it or not if not how else can a motorbike being called a means of transportation. You said that your wife love being a pillion and she calculated that the risk is worth taking.Well maybe she should recalculate.The risks mention by the blogger are a reality and are facts.I have rode a bike before and i acknowledged the risks being mentioned by the blogger. Maybe you have been lucky so far which is why u failed to recognize the risk factors involved.Prevention is better than cure my friend.Tell your wife that and she will love you more rather than love being a pillion rider ;)
Aiyah simply put it...
ReplyDeleteMotorcyclist will come out the loser in any colission with any vehicle, whether his fault or not.
I agree with Ridzwan. if u love someone you will not let him ride with u.
my late dad did not allow us on his scooter. all the way till we grew up and now were driving cars.
love my dad.
Carlover said:
ReplyDeleteDis kind of topic...very sensitive...must write wth care. But i 100% agree wth dis blogger..Mr. Ridzwan, is it?
I prefer cars anytime...but if cannot afford, i go for public transport. Just dont make it a habit, e.g. taking taxi; can blow big hole in the pocket if taken too ofetn.
Perhaps Malay community will NEVER learn...will ALWAYS b in DENIAL...
In my opinion, one shld work hard until he can AFFORD a car, BUT DOESNT MEAN he SHLD buy a car...there's a difference.Instead de $$ shld b used 2 buy other more necessary things. Un4tunately Malay community always MISUNDERSTAND..they take it that it's fine 2 work till they can afford only a motorbike..& most of them end up really buying motorbikes..
I tink i get where dis blogger is coming from. Bt i tink it'll b de same things over & over again...sampai berbuih mulut kita beri nasihat pun, the Malay community wudnt understand....nvm lah Mr. Ridzwan, if they still want 2 put their gals on the bike, let them...they'll never learn...
Gee what's all the fuss all about really. To pillion or not to pillion. It's all entirely up to the pillion rider. He or she who wishes to ride a bike as a pillion made a decision to WANT to ride knowing the risks involved. None forced I believe. In any case the writer can write whatever he deemed as educational or informative. Whether you actually agree or disagree, it's entirely up to you. Though I believe it's a rather cheap shot to shoot down motorcyclists simply based on the point that riding poses a huge danger to not only pillion riders but the riders themselves.
ReplyDeleteYet what disturbed me the most was when this post spiralled into a race-slamming opportunity for some of you readers. Please stop turning every single issue into a problematic Malay issue. Malay is not a problematic race as far I know, so I would appreciate if some of you refrain from making assumptions and observation on the race as a whole. What's worse some of you are Malays yourselves. Get this this straight in that thick skulls of yours. Some people, be it Malays or Chinese or Indians, opt to ride bikes because they cannot afford other to drive a car or van or lorry for the matter. Buses and MRT are totally out of context here. We are talking about self-owned transport and not about drunk driving where you are encouraged to go public. Most people are aware how much cheaper it is to own a bike as a mode of transport. Maybe to some it's not worth for the fact that you saved X amount at the expense of risking your lives. Yet for some, money don't really matter.
The negative does not evolve around a single race. Aren't you sick and tired of associating rioting with Malays, drug abusing with Malays, abortion rates with Malays, divorce rates with Malays that now you seem more than glad to add motorcycles accidents to the list?
Riding a bike as a rider or a pillion is but a choice. Whether it's a sound financial decision or a life-risking one it's entirely up to the individual. I shudder at the thought one fine day someone might actually speak up and propose a ban on riding or riding with a pillion rider. So what's next??
good issue you brought up here.im totally agree with you.guys,you should consider it thoroughly of whoever is riding with you,especially your love ones.travel by bikes are more risky than by car or bus.think before you make a move
ReplyDeleteI hate mat rempits. that is all i can say..
ReplyDeleteTake Public transport. Thats what our taxes are used for.
ReplyDeleteWhat happens when a kiasu driver meet a mat racer (rempit). Accident! Who died? mat motor of coz. So don't talk shit about safety riding.
Most typical minah are always attracted to mat with big bikes & small brains. When met by an accident, parents cried, the guy gets a new pair of wheels (wheelchair) & dear minah may be half bodied alive or 6 feet under.
To all mat motors, what ever goes thru ur minds wearing stupid clown clothes on ur fren's wedding. Show boating with ur stupid doughnut displays. Stop it, its irritating. Sit down & just eat the nasi minyak.
Hey man, I know your concern about bikes and pillons. Im a biker too and I have a girlfren who I would really want to grow old with.
ReplyDeleteI too am concern with the rising death of pillons on the road but the papers tend to write sappy half truths. Tragedies upon tragedies. Girl going to get married, blah blah. Boy loves his mother, blah, blah.
How about DRIVERS? Their recklessness cause a high percentage of fatal accidents on the road.
If a drunk driver ran down a rider who was minding his own business, don't tell me that the rider is at fault.
Yes, there are reckless riders and there are safe riders. Don't judge riders who have pillons to be reckless. Pretty immature with that assumption.
To the cynics to there, remember not all riders want to be dead on the road.
And having a car is NOT the best solution. A simple consideration for each other can go a long way.
i think khaled got it all wrong
ReplyDeletethe gist of the article is, mc is more dangerous than car.
like how u dun get ur loved one to clean windows on a ledge, u dun get ur loved one on a mc
To compare riding a bike and cleaning windows are two totally different scenarios. One is legal, the other isn't. You can be fined if you caught cleaning windows on a ledge. C'mon bro, you can do better than that.
ReplyDeleteI believe that there is no such thing as a safe ride on a bike or even a safe drive in a car. There are always risks. Unfortunately, there is a higher risk riding a bike. AGAIN, it doesn't mean driving is safe.
Driver are protected, no doubt abt that. And becos of this false sense of protection, thus they are more complacent....therefore, arising total disregard for safety.
Unconvienced?
How often you heard a bike accident involving a DRUNK RIDER?
DRUNK DRIVER?...most of the time.
As a rider, when we are riding, we are more concern about drivers than other 'dangerous' riders.
What I am trying to bring across to Mr Ridzwan is that not all riders are young punks. And not riders disregard safety for their pillons. To conclude such claims is to paint a negative overall picture of bikers, simply based on a narrow point of view.
To the readers, I hope you still remember of a tragic story about a female rider who died afer she flew off her bike when the car in front of her suddenly braked. The driver braked his car to avoid the ERP...
When i ride, i do it alone. because i love the speed and freedom.
ReplyDeletebut i drive daily and fetch my gf around in my car. (no, i didn't take a 10 years loan. 3 years loan only in fact)
anyway, my female malay colleague always ask her bf to fetch her from work or to anywhere.
although sometimes the guy is very tired, she still insist. if not they will have a big quarrel.
i guess some girls are just too pampered.
Khaled can try to argue all he wants but the fact remains
ReplyDeleteMost deaths on the road are caused by mc, most of them pillions.
It means if you are on an MC, chances of u dying is higher.
Period.
The article does not say that cars are totally safe.
It just says that if u are on MC, chances of u being hurt is higher. thats all.
I dun really read Berita Harian but i am aware of the fact that they do have an ongoing campaign thing led by Ismail Pantek to discourage malays from being on MC cos the incident of Malays dying on MC is on an increasing trend.
hahaha... i thk most ppl fail to see dat while those in the losing end r the riders, the main cause r usually the drivers. i mean... hu runs over ppl n vehicles all so often? hu runs over the stupid pedestrian? the driver. hu runs over the rider? the driver. hu bangs in the car? the driver again. since when u see, rider runs over jaywalker, or rider kills man in bmw, or rider kills rider. IT"S ALWAYS DRIVER KILLS EVERYONE~! my point is, if there're no car in the world, less ppl will die. if only bikes exist in this world, less ppl will die. if there r no bikes n only cars in the world, cars will still bang cars n ppl for fun, means ppl still die cos of cars. of cos, the person inside the car shiok shiok, unless kana run over by truck la.
ReplyDeletelast of all, ridz, if u hava bike, wld u take public transport wif yr gf or wife everitime u2 go out? i would, if it's raining.
n yes if i had a million dollars i wld get a car. if i had a rich dad i'd get a car. but im jus earning 2k a mth, so i have a bike.
if u're realli scared of dying on the road, stay indoors.
Actually i dun see what's the fuss about. You dun put ur loved one on a bike for the same reason u dun allow ur loved one to bungee jump - cos its dangerous
ReplyDeleteI dun allow my gf on a bike, nor to bungee jump cos i love her. these 2 are relatively more dangerous activities. its as simple as that.
of course bikers will disagree with this. cos they've been doing it. duh
haha! that's a good anology. great one ridzwan. will use it on my friends.
ReplyDeletei'm sure lots of angy mat motors will soon descend on your comment posting box :P
Angry Mat motors...bring them on...I'm sure most of them hev less brain in commenting in a blog
ReplyDeleteWat kind of stupid fucking theory is "if there're no car in the world, less ppl will die. if only bikes exist in this world, less ppl will die"
If there were only cars, if they bang each other. one has a chance of living while the other dies. If there were only bikes, if they bang each other, both will fucking die along with their stupid idiotic minah pillion. Poor minahs will die with an inch thick make-ups.
So don't talk shit about drunk driving n all.
Wow... a malay commenting abt other malays... talk abt diversity in your own homeland AMONGST your own race... WHO are YOU to judge abt the choices ppl make in their lives while you sit on your computer chair and slowly and without much thought type out your post?
ReplyDeleteYes it is sad that this mentality has been bestowed upon ppl of that (our) race but what i'd really like to point out is, what do you call racists to their own race? is it some kind of new and sick trend of the 21st century? or is it some kick that a few twisted minds have to blatantly pin-point faults or wrong-doings their fellow man what more race?
I dont get it... i really dont... THINK before you TYPE... Have a nice day...
Keyboard Key Pushing - a sport for cowards in the 21st century...
Fact of the day: The term mat motor is a generalised term for MALAY GUYS riding a motorcycle..Hence, ALL MALAY GUYS riding a motorcycle automatically qualifies as a MAT(malay word/slang/slurr for modern day hillbilly) malay man.. wow.
Ridzwan.com : OPEN YOUR MIND?? hah. what an inappropriate heading for a journal that only depicts a view from a really REALLY narrow mind..
I disagree with Shark
ReplyDeleteOn the contrary i think Malays have this disease of keeping quiet and "letting be" when others in the community do ill.
"Jangan jaga tepi kain org" is the most common lingo among malays, which literally means dont bother about people's dresses. (dont be a busybody)
Ridzwan.com is one of my regular READS because he is one chap WHO FINALLY comments about things that should be commented a long time ago, like our people getting into debt, malay divorces etc.
This is his own frigging blog, of course it's up to him. Calling people names just shows your level of maturity.
Keyboard pushing eh? So what are u doing then? Aren't you commenting also? It's your right to comment, moreover it's someone's right to comment if its his own damn blog. It's up to you if you wanna read it. Not all are like you.
a'kom wr wb..
ReplyDeletehanz...what do u have against ppl on bikes..?pls..not all riders r like the ones u described
(bising2 kt majlis org kawen n wearing clown clothes)..
my bike is pure transportation.it is convenient(yes more than public) and it enables me to keep up and carik sesuap nasik utk keluarga.
and to the one who said most road deaths are pillion riders..where did u derive this statistic from?
one might say there are other alternatives...well not everybody has the same oportunities man..open ur eyes.
stop being nannies and let ppl live their choices..our gov is oredi doing enuff of that..
ppl who take their 2b oredi know the consequences..one of the lessons shows gory ppl flailing ard in a bike accident...
Yeah Shark. You should open up your eyes and mind. We are malays but doesn't mean we can't comment on our own races. Its a good thing that Ridwan pointed out our wrong doings so pple like you will wake up! What good if you say good things abt our race all the time? Our egos will just grow bigger.
ReplyDelete"MOST MALAY GUYS riding a motorcycle automatically qualifies as a MAT". Den what the heck you call them? MoFo's?
Fazlur, so you really think "commenting" would do our community so much good huh? Get out there and join e community movements! do ur community work. Spread e words, do ur bit instead of insulting/critizing others. Why crack ur brains to reply to comments? Dont talk so much. Do your walking.
ReplyDeleteI neither agree nor disagree wit this post but he is after all free to say out his mind. But like fazlur, you shld refrain from typing and do more community work if you wanna change our community mindset.
"If a man truly loves a woman, he wouldn’t put her on a motorcycle"
ReplyDeleteI disagree. Riding is a passion for some riders and bikes are like their wives. The fact that a man allows his woman to lay her butt on his bike shows how much he loves her! Obviously, he loves her more than he loves his bike.
The rest of ur post I have to agree but I cant accept that statement. Love is not decided by whether u pillon ur woman or not.
As for the young punks, I hope they will realise the value of life.
Here I am laughing out loud when I read comments by anonymous idiots who believe so much in what they are saying that they don't believe in putting a name behind the comment(s).
ReplyDeleteWhatever it is, mat motor or not, the choice boils down to the pillion rider. He or she makes the choice to sit behind the rider and isn't it up to her anyway to decide whether she can trust the guy to ride safely or not?
Not riding a bike doesn't mean you'll live longer. You live or you die. No one really knows when. What you can actually do is just try your best to rule your life but if someone up there plays with you like a puppet, what can you say?
As a part of the Malay community, there are so many issues that need to be addressed but i think it's important that at least people are thinking about it, not hiding behind the facts. And what use is blogging, say, if you don't practise what you preach? Well, don't be an idiot and drop out of school, get a bike and find a chick stupid enough to hop on it. Instead, get EDUCATED and bring about change that way.
People may be inclined to call ridwan names and everything but all they're doing is what he is doing - pointing out people's 'flaws'.
At the end of the day, it boils down to riding safe, remembering that you're being responsible for someone else's life as well as your own. So if you can't accept any possibilities of having an accident on the road, sit and home, shut up and wait for something/someone to kill you instead of a car/drunk driver.
To Hans,
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean by "ppl like me will wake up"? That on its own is showing diversity and the fact that you are so sickened to be malay... In a way, i'm proud and glad that at least i am open enough to see it from all angles and the fact that he (Ridzwan) pointed out abt the escalation of accidents involving MALAY riders...
He has barely even pointed out the FACTS of the recent accident... For all you know, its just another coincidence... I am begining to wonder why oh why does the local press enjoy bringing us sad news of MALAYS being in accidents and just adding to statistics when we are the minority... isn't it weird that accidents involving other races barely make it to the papers?
sad isn't it when our ideals and "moral compassion" for our OWN race has turned to shame? Shame that we are still essentially part of this "group" within a group.. but then again the security of our lives have led to the belief that we are always safe and comfortable... And that by talking abt it enough, it might - just might make a difference. HAH.
The post itself is not a fair take on your love for your pillion rider. Who are you to judge a person's love for the other just by the simple fact that he or she allows the pillion ride with him/her? Just to remind you guys, i have not deviated from the actual essence of this post, but it looks like many many of you have..
Take fazlur for instance, his very well put malay "proverb" have really served no purpose abt this and looks like it even backfired on HIM when he is the one who "JAGA TEPI KAIN ORG". Just to point out, I haven't called ANYONE names.. Just merely pointing out some of our FAVOURITE terms that we ourselves resent. Pls be mindful the next time you put down a mat/minah walking along the pavement, their heart might be purer then yours.
Think abt that.
Assalamualaikum
ReplyDeleteBeen reading this blog for a while but i think i need to leave a comment today, because of the stupid comments i read from some of the readers.
I first came to know bout this blog from a friend who circulated Ridzwan's article title the Four Malay Money Habits (bankrupt mat)
i dun drive a car, but the article got me thinking about how some of my friends are spending their money and how accurately it describes the social ills of our society today. i too particularly liked the feisty minorty - an article that i still forward to my friends today who keep complaining about racism at the work place.
to that anonymous person who can't even leave his name, now that is enough of a community servuice for me. unlike you who paste comments here asking ppl to do community service but not doing so urself. sometimes words, good words are enough of a community service. good writings will be forwarded and it may tocuh a life or so here and there for a long time to come. thats how ppl still remember the words of munsyi abdullah and his writings. you have no right to ssay that someone is not doing community service through his writings. perhaps if you start writing useful stuff, you will be doing community service yourself.
About this motorcycle thing,
In Islam there is the concept of IKHTIAR and preventing yourself from MUDHARAT wherever possible. if it is known that motorcyle is one of the major cause of death, then it is WAJIB for the thinking Muslim Man who love his loved ones to AVOID it if it is possible. this is the reason why berita harian had the anti-motorcycle campaign i believe.
to the person who request for statistics on the death of pillion riders and malays, here it is
http://emj.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/21/4/478.pdf
u should learn to find info urself.
haiz.
ReplyDeletei don see the big issue here.
u c im a pillion. yeah, i know that bikes are dangerous and so are cars, lorries, trishaws, wheelchairs, etc, etc. it's the driver/rider u need to think about. not the vehicle. the fact is when u're on the road, u're at a risk. if the driver/rider handles his vehicle safely and consciously, i don c any prob. btw, the left front car seat is also called "the death seat". one suzuki swift driver got his gf killed due to reckless driving. ive sat on that "death seat" several times too. whenever the car speeds, i feel at risk too. so it doesnt matter which vehicle u're in.
lucky for me im not with a rempit but a good chap with a love for bikes.
so let's not generalise. =)
pls dun equate being in a car to just as dangerous to being in a motorcycle.
ReplyDeletei dun need to teach u to use google to see that pillion riders die much, much more frequently than passengers in cars.
statistics of road accidents say it all.
thanks habib for the link to the stats
try typing "deaths of riders by drivers" on Google....
ReplyDeleteAs you know, statistics dont give the whole picture, asshole.
Get yourself a riding license, ride during the peak hours at the CBD...then tell right to my face that drivers ARE not the ones that cause deaths on the roads.
If you are a typical public transport user, you have no say in this entry...cos you dont know shit that is going on the local roads.
Habib...your "reference" juz tell us the percentage of motorcyclists who were involved in accidents and
ReplyDeletetheir injuries...Try finding WHAT caused their injures.
Oh, let me help you with that.
Time for the REAL facts from the POLICE
http://www.spf.gov.sg/stats/traf2006_concern.htm
The number of persons killed or injured in drink-driving related accidents in 2006 : 361
Number fatalities involving motorcyclists and pillon riders in 2006 : 102
Not convienced?
Another statistic from LTA
http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/common/Meetings/TIS/EGM%20Roadsafety%20Country%20Papers/Singapore_Roadsafety.pdf
Number of motorcyclist + pillion deaths: 102 in 2006
Number of motorcycles in 2006
: 141,318
Thus chances of a motorcyclist+pillion being killed: 0.007%
In the same year (2006), 3,588 drivers caught not wearing seatbelts. Safe drivers?
Mmmm...
A study on accidents on the Singapore expressways.
http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/natural_hazards/overview/nho0024pf.htm
It states: The accidents are also grouped based on the vehicle involvement and it has been observed that around 58% of the expressway accidents were multiple vehicle accidents and the rest were single vehicle accidents.
Meaning: More accidents happen involving two or more vehicles colliding in which suggest a bike itself is not dangerous. When something, more likely a car, hits the bike, then, a likelyhood of an accident.
Thus supporting the claim; It's a driver who will likely caused an accident.
Aaand finally from Statistics Singapore:
http://www.singstat.gov.sg/pubn/reference/yos/statsT-transport.pdf
Turn to page 10
Vehicles involed in Road Accidents In 2006
Motorcycles: 4,532.
Motor Cars: 5,638.
Hope you guys (bikers and anti-bikers) are enlightened by these facts.
Moral to be learned: Do your research (PROPERLY) before running your mouths with 2 cents worth of opinions.
"If a man truly loves a woman, he wouldn’t put her on a motorcycle." This tear jerker of an entry can hold no water.
ReplyDeleteIf you claim that motorcycles are so dangerous, much more so than cars, even the man should not be riding the motorcycle.
is it worse for the wife to lose her life or to lose her husband's? its probably arguable, but you'd have to think about it.
if anyone at all were to go with your very brave argument, you might want to say then that even husbands should not ride motorbikes if they really love their wives, because who is to be a husband after one bad accident? Is it then responsible even for the husband to be riding?
The blog is but a private space in a very public one. Any views should be able to sustain a reasonable amount of assaults, dont you think? if not, i guess a diary with a little key lock should suffice. :)
glad to hear your thoughts on all of the above. thanks.
dude, is death fated? go read up the Quran
ReplyDeleteahaha to the guy who quoted so much from the websites...
ReplyDeletedo u realise that you have just proved that motorcycles are INDEED dangerous?
wat u have proved is that motorcycles, whether invloved in crash alone or invloved in crash with another vehicle, is indeed the more dangerous form of transportation.
dude, u just did the other guy a favour man....
the mat motors have arrived, the mat motors have arrived!
ReplyDeleteis it school holidays at the ITE or smth?
Think. Do you prefer to be on an MRT, bus or taxi? OK fine enuff dat death is in god's hand but if you think logically. I'm sure these transports are safer than bikes which are small, fast, weaving thru traffic (rempit).
ReplyDeleteThen pple talking about affordability. You have a family, wife, 3 kids for eg. You not earning much. yeah bike as transport is economical but is both you & your wife's life that economical? What if your kids waited for you & your wife to come back from werk and both of you didn't make it. So please to those fathers, if you cant get a car, go public. Everybody loves to see a happy family.
And to those Mat motors/rempits/sepang-racer wannabes, think lah.
whenever i drive, i cant help but noticing these malay couples on motorcycles.
ReplyDeleteand when they ride past me, i can somehow feel that their girlfriends are looking at my girlfriend in the passenger seat in envy seating comfortable in the seat of a mitsubishi lancer, with full aircon and shelter and music, away from the elements of smoke and rain.
come on la mats, thats how u treat someone u love instead of putting her behind and letting the whole world look at your girlfriends' round ass and let all the horny taxi driver admire wat a wonderful cushy butt ur girl friend has. By the time you reach your destination dozens off taxi drivers would have feasted their eyes on your girl.
You gotta admit it, bringing a girl on a bike is just not classy, even by malay girl standards these days. my office colleagues confess this. most of them may say they like it just to please u mats and ur unclassy ways but deep inside she wants to be pampered in a car. but too bad her bf is just to unclass man.
interesting, but as you can see a motorcycle can be also used in many many constructive ways. As any muslim malay should have already known, working is considered as another form of 'ibadah' and many malays and muslims use the motorcycle as a form of transport to take them to work and home. on any friday, hari raya, fasting month during tarawith time, you see muslims on bikes, even with pillions, on their way to mosques all over singapore, and even around the world for that matter. i believe that if you use the motorcycle in good faith, even with a pillion, you will always receive some form of 'berkat' from the Almighty himself.
ReplyDeletesee, planes crash too. but is one of the most accesible form of transportation for those perfoming the haj living outside of saudi arabia. so should they refrain from flying too?
at the end of the day, everyone can die anytime, in one way or another. the real question here should be: are muslims fully prepared to face death?
also, thats the problem with us malays, everyone thinks he or she is better than the next person. instead of condemning the malays and stereotyping them, can somebody at all blog something constructive to help this community progress into the future?
Hey Jim Beam, Nice one...haha. A bunch of unclassy man trying to show off.
ReplyDelete"Open your mind. But don't let your brains fall out."
ReplyDeletehey, mr ridzwan.com nice tagline, but if u really mean it, try to see this isue from several angles.........
Different angles ord wat. So many ppl giving their opinions. Duh.
ReplyDeleteThat's the purpose.
name of beer guy,
ReplyDeleteu n the women in ur world sound too materialistic to me...n ur comment doesn't really sound like it comes from something that knows what class is...
i ride a bike n resent being called bike...n please.. my pillion wife who wears hijab n covers her aurat doesn't get jealous when she sees materialistic girlfriends who demand cars from abiding puny boyfriends who take 10 yr loans but still end up stuck in the cte daily jam...
Dear Ridzwan and Hanz,
ReplyDeleteHow many years of riding experience do both of u haf? Haf u ever even rode a bike in ur life? You seem to love passing ur houlier than thou judgement on to others esp from within ur own community... Once again u dnt understand and u kant relate to the minority few so u condemn and critisize dem... Spare a thought for them by putting urself in their shoes... Given a choice everyone will want a car for transport and a bike for fun and thrills... And young punks being young ofcoz dey act immaturely without a care for the world wat do u expect... Maybe u were nvr young before? Sad childhood u haf there... Juz because u were a restricted nerd ur whole life doesnt mean others are like u...
Heppi New Year Everyone,
Wasp...
Assalamualaikum to all,
ReplyDeletefirstly let's observe some adab when leaving comments. it reflects very much on your upbringing and manners. especially here when you are visiting someone's blog and he kindly approves of your comments.
to jim beam (don't you have a better name? )
i agree with the others that you should not be sounding so high and "atas". It is your perception that women on motorcycles are looking at your girlfriend in envy when they ride past your car. it may not be true. do spare a thought for those who do not have the means to drive.
to the others, let's not start to criminalise one another. this is after all a blog, and everyone is free to voice their opinion. it should be encouraged cos Malays are known to not talk about things like these, we should be glad that such spaces exist.
with regards to motorcycles, my personal opinion is when u love someone, be it a wife, girlfriend, child, mother etc, you would hate if if the person has a single scratch on her body so much so that you will take all measures to ensure that she is at the least risk of getting hurt - including riding a motorcyle.
riding a motorcycle has far more dangers than any other form of transportation in the world.
a piece of plastic bag on the road, losing balance, slippery surface, holes in the ground - all these are real and fatal dangers to the motorcycle that will not be dangerous to other forms of vehicles, including a car.
a motorcycle is very susceptible. there is a reason why they are made to ride in the left lane. the govt has even made a campaign not too long ago for all motorists to look out for motor, cos the death and injury rate for riders is just way to high.
yes death is in the hands of God, but would you like to see your loved one paralysed from the waist down? or being amputated for the rest of her life? or being seen with an ugly scar wherever she goes from a motor fall? in Islam there is the concept of fate, but there is the concept of avoiding the dangerous and the harmful.
to e stereotypers out there.. i feel tt u haf gone beyond e topic by insulting ur own race ur own family.. kita sudah ditindas oleh kaum lain mengapakah harus kita menindas diri kita sendiri.. tink abt tt..
ReplyDeleten im sure prob those ppl are oxford post-graduates or sumtin tts y u insult abt e mats n minahs lyk tt.. im sure out there there might be a mat or a minah whose more intelligent than u.. if they had better upbringing or if they dint mix wif e wrong crowd prob they would haf more success in studies than u.. does it mean a mat has no education.. does it mean a nice n nerdy looking person has high education.. i think not..
u should mirror urself first.. hw high is ur education tat gives u e ryt to judge other ppl n pinpoint their education levels by e clothes they wear or e way they carry themselves.. open ur mind and nt judge a person at first look.. prob sum1 whu has a gangster face is a really intelligent person..
lastly im nt here to pinpoint bt i juz tink its too much when ppl stereotype n hone in on mats n minahs n guess their education levels.. prob there might be a mat whu has a doctorate or wadever.. im nt a mat or a minah bt i juz feel tt they shuld be supported to become better n nt hurled insults at.. tts hw u help ur community to change by supporting change nt bringing down ur own community.. so lets change ppl for e better.. have an open mind..
hey idris,
ReplyDeletegreat comments! well done, very well written.
but u sure you commented the right post? this post is about motorcycles?
Race slamming is really a cheap way of trying to be heard. Anyway, though I prefer to be in a car or drive, riding on motorcycles shouldn't be shunned.
ReplyDeleteLike the blogger always mention (or should I say, hastily rants) it's always the Malays, it's always the Malays.
Though I'm a Chinese, I still think this is just unjustified. Sometimes I question if the blogger has really done deep research into the real statistics.
I believe not everyone can afford a car. And sometimes taking public transport can be more expensive than having a bike to ride even. I've done some calculations with fellow rider friends.
Though I believe riding is dangerous and have always advised friends against riding, sometimes people are just people. They have their wants to have their choices.
And the thing is, it's not about how Malays are always the root of troubles. I believe it's just YOUNG PEOPLE. The media loves to zoom in on Malays because it'll naturally evoke this kind of response from people. And it's proven. The entry and the comments say it all.
Don't let what you see or read or hear from the papers or news etc brainwash you subconsciously. You might say that it's your genuine opinion, but we have been brainwashed since young.
I'd just like to remind all riders to be careful about safety riding. Though no matter how careful you can be at times, others are the ones who'll hit you and get away with it.
Cars = Machine protect body
Motors = Body protect machine
It is quite upsetting to see Malays talking shit about the Malay race, not liking the Malay race and bullshitting alot. Well take a look at yourselves and then a double look.
You'll find out hey, you're a Malay too. And the things you do sometimes are classified as "typical Malay" so please don't preach about other flaws when you have your own. Those in support of something against Malays or of ANY race at all, you're a disgrace to the nation.
And PS to the blogger, find out statistical facts before ranting opinions because though it IS your blog after all, the controversy of it all does affect readers who do not know how to stand and neutral grounds and judge for themselves based on fairness. They might get swayed by your ramblings. And I believe most Malay news are always big in the papers, that's why we see it all the time and it tends to infuriate us that Malays are always the one doing something stupid.
Before you read anything or see anything, think again to whether you should even believe it. I know there are many other races out there who are just as reckless, just not reported.
Thanks.
Anyhow, this is out of the point. But try taking Public Transport more, people. It may get crowded, but it's safer and it saves the Earth by using lesser vehicles.
I am FUCKING SICK of ppl like the anonymous above me who keeps on saying that Malays love to slam Malays.
ReplyDeleteTell me, if we Malays don't look back and ponder at our own action WHO ELSE WILL?
Finally, here we have a product of our own race putting taboo issues up for discussion, but u ppl keep slamming this dude for "criticising the Malays"
Do we want another media that sweeps everything under the carpet? Be like suria channel? where everything that goes on in the malay community is rosy and dandy? the only Malay media that so far points out problems in the malay community is berita harian- but we cannot rely on that cos its fast losing popularity amongst the youth. But yet when we have ppl on the new media who actually does smth about it, you ppl slam him for "criticising the malays" too much.
Malays in singapore are facing lots of problems. lots and lots of problems. divorce, education bla,bla bla, all this we know. but i share the writers sentiments that that are emerging problems like the habit of our ppl who love going into debt etc. its high time that these issues be highlightted and given public debate. i may not agree with everything he says (like the motorcycle thingy) but i think he has brought up very relevant issues.
"yes death is in the hands of God, but would you like to see your loved one paralysed from the waist down? or being amputated for the rest of her life? or being seen with an ugly scar wherever she goes from a motor fall? in Islam there is the concept of fate, but there is the concept of avoiding the dangerous and the harmful."
ReplyDeleteHey Hassan, U stole my script...haha. Anyway i strongly agree with this one...wassalam
The last statement - "If a man truly loves a woman, he wouldn’t put her on a motorcycle." Is it really necessary? You have very quickly pigeon-holed every motorcyclist with this critical and judgmental statement of yours. To cast doubt on one's love for a person based on the mode of transport is oversimplifying matters. Although yes I agree that it is inherently dangerous to ride a motorcycle, but like so many other forms of transport, they too incur some form of risk.
ReplyDeleteJust because a certain traffic accident that involves a motorcycle gets highlighted in the newspaper, it doesn't mean it's happening more often for 2 wheelers. Bad things happen to good people. It doesn't matter what you drive or don't drive.
However if you want to talk about the sense of responsibility, or riding sensibly etc. along those lines, then it would certainly be more objective than your sweeping statement about "true love" as mentioned above.
I respect and acknowledge that this is your own personal opinion on the matter but since it's posted on a very public domain easily accessed by anyone, I would suggest you should remain open to debate and suggestions that you may perhaps be wrong in what you say.
It's different because a girl is a thinking sentient being, capable of taking care of herself and making her own choices. A vase on the other hand, is inanimate and does not even have the limbs to hold on to the motorcycle.
ReplyDeleteI know what you're trying to say. It's just not as simple as you put it.
I think only a guy would compare a lady to a vase. An expensive vase yeah but still, a vase. A possession.
To the anonymous who commented at 8:46am
ReplyDeleteI am sure there are MUCH better ways to bring up taboo topics in a more meaningful way and not "slamming" to what was discussed. It is true that the author was indeed slamming the race, whether it was meant to bring light to topics.
And you're confident this is a good method to so-call improve the race? What makes you so sure? I am supportive of anyone who wants to improve for the better. But there are already enough people criticising the race. Everyone else is doing it, and YOU want to join them to slam Malays?
Yes I agree, there are a lot of problems with the race; debts, pregnancy etc, those that you've mentioned. And I understand where you're coming from. I do not shun the author for bringing up the topic.
I am saying; that to make better of the situation, one doesn't need to literally criticise and stereotype, especially. Stereotyping is the root of all evil and everyone should know that.
Don't misinterpret what was said. But I guess not everyone is on the same wavelength.
to the anonymous above me,
ReplyDeletewhat is your definition of "slamming"
is examining issues slamming? so when berita harian criticises our pregnany rate is that slamming? if everything is "slamming' to you, then no one can fucking comment on anything about the community without being accused of "slamming".
i think we should grow up and broaden our definitions. other races especially in the west has been and actively debating issues in their community. have you been to trafalgar square in London? The English debate the English community everyday for the past 400 years. that was how they conquered 1/3 of the world.
have you seen taiwanese and japanese TV? issues about the society are brought and debated furiosly every week.
yet when we have media that speaks the truth about malays, we are accused of "slamming". if you choose to be the typical malay who cant stand to be criticised as they call it "terasa' then i suggest you go watch things like suria channel. when they hail the Malay community everyday about things like Hady Mirza bla bla. i think you will like it there. no one is doing any "slamming" there. you will like it.
Have you read the all the essays in this blog? Go read essays like the feisty minority. and the bankrupt mat. i think the writer has pointed out relevant issues WITH proposed solutions for his readers to ponder. Now tell me is that "slamming"?! If it's not to be done that way, NOW U TELL me how else would you do it?
i share the writer's sentiments about singapore malays. i disagree that he is slamming. in fact at least someone is bold enough to take up taboo topics and has provided statistics to back it up. i prefer the post titled unspoken numbers.
ReplyDelete"If a man truly loves a woman, he wouldn’t put her on a motorcycle" hahaha that sounds ghey man.
ReplyDeleteIf a woman loves me, she follow me everywhere be it rain, shine, roads, desert or mountains.
Then it proves the woman is strong enough to bear my son and nurture him to be strong too.
I dun want some swarovski crystal that just stands around looking nice but lil bit difficult cannot lil bit inconvenient also can break. Ceh!
N regarding death, if its time to go its time to go. Some ppl sit at home watch TV oso can die, so how?
Mr Ridwan i think your mind is socially engineered and brainwashed by the Gahmen lah. Gahmen say ride moto dangerous, u listen, Gahmen say buy car u listen and then we will hear ppl like u complain "Aiyah my installement so expensive, road tax, erp, coe, parking, fine etc etc"
I can afford a car but i'm not a fool to be a gahmen cashcow so i choose to ride a bike. End of story
Hmm,
ReplyDeleteI must say this is probably the article which receives the most responses from your readers.
At the end of the day, it's the operator of the vehicle, not the vehicle that matters.
I am a bike slut and I have almost begged for a joyride from friends who have bought Hayabusas and R1's. No one can "put" someone in the pillion seat.
I also just got myself a bike. Drawing a cost price analysis would show you that depending on which bike you get, (four stoker or two, etc) a bike is the most economical mode of transport. The cost of fuel, a pro-rata portion of the installments and servicing to town, is cheaper than public transport. Plus it's way faster.
In addition, a bike being smaller is able to maneuver out of situations much easier than cars. I have swerved out of the way more than once which I don't think I could with a car.
Both kinds of vehicles are EQUALLY likely to get into accidents. It's just that for a rider, it is less forgiving, for a driver always feels armored.
But a rider is more aware of his mortality. As since I started riding, I say Bismillah more, Subahannallah more, and in general be more thankful to HIM.
I also give rides when friends need them. I am a super safe rider with a pillion. Because I'm responsible for them. Riders are definitely MORE aware of this fact than drivers.
At the end of the day. It's rider, not the ride.
Think through what you are doing and just don't be stupid about it.
To Norisha,
ReplyDeleteCan you point me to a website on your statistic that riders are EQUALLY (caps yours) susceptible to being invloved in an acident?
Cos none of the websites so far shows this, including the ones that i have left above.
MATROCK
Obviously, reading from the replies on Ridzwan's comments, many people missed his point.
ReplyDeleteHe is simply proposing that if the love of your life (he, she or it) is of such status to you, then why do you bear the risk of transporting him, her or it on a transport mode which has more than its fair share of traffic accidents ranging from motorbike being hit (not your fault), motorbike hitting another vehicle (your fault) motorbike hitting non-vehicle (also your fault).
In a democratic world (read non-muslim world), it's your freedom to insist and continue to place your love (he, she or it) on the bike and insist that it is a non-issue.
But the fact remains that it's a risk that you undertake knowingly.
Period.
That's all Ridzwan wants to say.
And abit more, that is, if you truly love a person, you may want to reconsider using motorbike as a mode of transport.
Simply, since most muslims are pious and as such non-secular, unless you are a moderate. Just ask yourself this question, would you pillion your Mother or Grandmother to her destination of interest?
If the answer is yes, I rest my case.
Note: I view Ridzwan as a post-modern person with deep and profound cultural roots which I do not find myself agreeing with all the time, but, in an objective rational analysis, most of his comments on his blog are correct if not humourous.
I hope there are more interesting bloggers like Ridzwan who are willing to talk about their own culture instead of making everything muslim exclusive... It only serves to alienate and on a track record, though the treatment of muslims in certain muslim countries are appalling, the day when the muslim radicals killed the russian kindergarten kids... we do question how a religion can make one so righteous as to take another tribes' kids for murder.
At the end of the day, as usual a post as such attracts 90% anonymous commentors. SInce you all are so hard up about the fact that you are Malays giving feedback on the Malay community. Then as Malay as you wanna be, you should all start feeding of the line berani kerana benar.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong with leaving comments or stating your opinions, but top hide behind all these anonymous tags just somehow reduced your credibility. Kudos no doubt to Ridzwan for bringing up such a pressing issue (based on the reaction). Yet shame to you guys for blowing the whole matter out of proportion and at the end of the day instead of a solution, we have indeed managed to identify more flaws in the same society.
Wait a minute. Guess that is a good thing as the 'educated' Malays who are 'presumably' non-Mat and non-Minahs actually wished for all the flaws to be recognised so as to lay it out and seek solutions.
Typical typical typical.
To Matrock,
ReplyDeleteForgive me, I supposed I ought to have written motorcycles are LESS likely to be involved in one. Based on the fact that there are fewer accidents involving motorcycles as volunteered by Jigsaw.
The point that I was trying to raise is the existence of a biased base reference. I am sorry if I wasn't clear. To put it simply so that you could better ruminate it, it only seems that there are more accidents involving motorcycles as they are better remembered as they are less forgiving. Again, to help you understand that; motorcycle accidents result in harsher, or more serious injuries and gory deaths. Hence, amplifying the apparent risk of riders.
Do get back to me if you require additional assistance in understanding the arguments put forth.
Sincerely,
Norisha
Just take public transport can or not?
ReplyDeleteBike cheaper than car la...
Car safer than bike la...
Motor faster can squeeze thru traffic la...
Wat if accidentally u try to squeeze under a car or truck...
Hayabusa R1,2,3 la...
RIP baru tau...
The thing is some of us malays already look like Mats & minahs from birth...so please don't make it more obvious by dressing in super tight & super tapered clothings...It sux!!
To Hanz,
ReplyDelete"Bike cheaper than car la...
Car safer than bike la..."
I think this is a hardly decent job of summarizing the arguments thus far.
You have hardly shown how either statement are conclusive to an absent stand. Much less prove the infallibility of either statement.
And your comments regarding fashion trends are off tangent to say the least.
And why on earth would anyone "try to squeeze under a car or truck..."?
Dear Hanz,
What are you trying to say, really?
Do get back to me if you need help, of any sorts.
Sincerely,
Norisha Ridzwan
Help me Norisha...i think i'm replying to "one of them"
ReplyDeleteKindly advise. Thanks
To Hanz,
ReplyDeleteI beg to differ. (",)
I was merely trying to assist you in communicating your thoughts, which at best, seemed rather convoluted.
There's no real need to be acrimonious about it dude.
Of course you could choose to think what you wish. I just thought a little contradiction would be healthy. Guess not in your case. (",)
Do take care and all the best.
Sincerely,
Norisha
To Norisha, Hanz, Wasp, and all those who have commented.
ReplyDeleteI suggest we all put down our swords. Through this blog and articles, I realise that we all have smth in common. We are Malay / Muslims on the intellectual plane.
I suggest we get to know each other. It is more fruitful that way.
Shall we get to know each other? Maybe over coffee? :)
hi...
ReplyDeletei am a biker,
I am mat. Sometimes a geek. A rocker also... i look respectable and sometimes i look like rubbish.
soemtimes i am a super safe rider and sometimes i am a young punk.
Bottom line is i am before and will be everything u have ever mentiond the traits be it negative or positive.
And Mr Ridzwan here... has pointed out something.
Now the function of a reader (me) is either to take it or just leave it. Personally, it has some validity and i think i'll absorb whats necessary.
Jamal.
Sorry dude,
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with you on this. Like some of the others said, it's choice.
Yes, I agree that riders would come out losers in most collisions but that doesn't mean that drivers are not culpable also.
I have seen enough car accidents to know that a car is no safer when in the hands of a reckless or inexperienced driver. Take the recent punk driver, Regan Lee who test-drove the MX5 and crashed, killing the Sales Executive?
Your advice should be, "Pillions/Passengers, please beware who is commandeering the vehicle you're taking. A maniac or responsible person?"
That should be less controversial & make you look more like a learned person...