No <em>kapchai</em> ban in Kuala Lumpur city centre – Ku Nan

The expected u-turn has popped up. Federal Territories minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said there will be no ban on small underbone motorcycles, popularly known as kapchais, in the Kuala Lumpur city centre, The Star reports.

“Don’t worry, we will not implement the ban. I said there was only a possibility of us going ahead with the ban, not that it would be implemented,” he said, adding that the ministry would not go ahead with a ban if it was not popular with the rakyat.

“We will always look at it in the proper way without burdening the people. I know many people use these types of vehicles, especially to travel to work, because they are cheap. We will never do it if the rakyat don’t want it. What can we do? We will follow the rakyat,” he said.

No <em>kapchai</em> ban in Kuala Lumpur city centre – Ku Nan

Earlier in the week, Tengku Adnan had said that small bikes might be banned from entering the city in an effort to reduce carbon emissions and pollution, a statement that brought about mixed reactions from the public.

In response to the proposal, Natural Resources and Environment minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar refuted the notion that such a ban will help reduce pollution, and said proper research is needed before proceeding with such a move.

The police also chipped in on the matter. Its crime prevention and community safety department director, Datuk Rusli Ahmad, said authorities should take into account the considerations of those in the lower income bracket using such motorcycles, and not just focus on reducing carbon emissions and snatch theft cases in the city centre.