Jom Genting? Genting mou? This weekend got drive? For most car guys in the Klang Valley, all roads lead to the Karak Highway or the Ulu Yam road. Destination: The Genting Highlands International Circuit (GHIC), where you can do a half course to Gohtong Jaya or the full circuit, all the way up to the hill resort.
Of course, there’s no such thing as the GHIC, but the road to Genting Highlands seems like one sometimes, with various groups (some big, some small) and individuals driving their cars enthusiastically up the hill. As seen in a now-notorious social media channel shooting from a famous corner of the touge route, there are all kinds of cars doing Genting, from modified old Protons and Peroduas to Porsche RS models, and many JDMs in between.
But when you put a bunch of guys in cars, things can become competitive, even when there’s no actual competition going on. You know what we’re talking about, we’ve all been there before – who has the faster car, who’s the better driver, you get the drift. There’s a wide range of drivers too, from P license holders to old timers. Throw male ego into the mix and there’s a good chance of combustion.
Even before the recent viral case of a Honda CR-Z spinning into a ditch at that famous corner – the whole sequence captured on video – tow trucks were always on standby.
Those things won’t happen to me, I’m a good driver. OK we hear you, but even if you’re decent behind the wheel, how about others? Yes, the Genting road isn’t an exclusive playground for car guys, and we’re sharing this narrow hill route with other cars, old uncles (we don’t mean the private taxi pros), trucks and tour buses. When you’re pushing hard and normal drivers are driving well, normally, the speed difference can be huge.
The fast cars will then treat slower vehicles as moving obstacles to manoeuvre around, and overtaking moves of all varieties are attempted – inside, outside, through corners. This is part of the fun, some say. Well, it’s just plain dangerous.
You see, the Genting road isn’t like your typical highway. Steep, winding, narrow and foggy, it’s not the kind of road regular drivers experience often, and just staying on course is a challenge for some. Imagine this regular driver – who has every right to use the road, by the way – being faced with a bunch of loud and fast cars?
Furthermore, racing up the hill is illegal. You might already know that the entire Genting road – from Genting Sempah to Gohtong Jaya and all the way up to the the peak – is a private road owned by Genting Malaysia and operated by its subsidiary Lingkaran Cekap Sdn Bhd. If you’ve noticed the ‘Jalan Persendirian’ signs, look closer and you’ll see “terms and conditions apply for use of road”.
What are these terms? A simple Google search will point you to the document, which is publicly accessible. It’s quite long, but the gist of it is that you have to abide by the standard road traffic rules in Malaysia, including the prescribed speed limits. The document also explicitly singles out the prohibition of any kind of “street-cruising, race or sport” – see the video above for more on this.
As this is a private road, its owner has the absolute right to bar you from entering the road, or even evict you. If you’re going to say “you think this is your father’s road ah?”, well, in this case, it really is someone’s father’s road. So, let’s stop treating the Genting road like it’s actually a GHIC and respect other road users. Even if you’re a good driver, it’s not right to put others at risk for your own enjoyment.
If you really need to scratch the itch and stretch your car’s legs, head to the actual international circuit in Sepang. We’re blessed with one of the best circuits in the world in our backyard and there are plenty of track days these days, some at pretty affordable prices too. Watch the video above and tell us what you think.
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Just another bunch of mat rempits, only with cars. Can afford expensive cars but too stingy to pay for a proper circuit race.
Just as type C complain on mat rempits, others are complaining these type C ricer guys.
Hoho! Shots fired by Paul Tan team, and good one I must say. Sick of seeing YouTubers endangering other road users and getting away with it, especially an older man *cough* drive and pretending to give viewers “lesson” of how to drive defensively while calling out obstacles from afar, as if that’s going to matter when things really go wrong randomly.
forgive the older man. he has to make up for his wrinkled little…
I agree 100% Hafriz, not only the young one are racing and driving recklessly, posting videos on youtube, even the old one also doing the same, they even post on their own youtube channel for years and no consequences.
But Genting got racing line.
what about me?
Please turn yourself in at the nearest Balai. We need to have a chat.
Spirited driving up genting existed for the longest time ever but was popularized by a certain fb group with it’s Saturday runs. Just look at the YouTube videos posted by its members. Then other car reviewers joined in the fun and posted more videos. Soon everyone who watched these videos think they’re Lewis Hamilton and started this whole mess. PDRM should catch these YouTubers as a deterrent to others. Ada berani?
Ppl now enduro to maehongson dah. Tak main genting lagi. Genting are for amateurs
Not a Nurburgring Track, but a great alternative to Ouninpohja.
It need some official events.
Instead of them gambling their lives away, might as well they go up to the casino to gamble their money in which they might bring home more money.
I think these small boys must learn that Genting was used for testing cars since the 1970s.
Just because you small boys don’t know how to drive properly, don’t blame “the whole pot of milk for being spoiled”.