"We Pay Roadtax" — RXZ Organiser Defends LPT Highway Closure By Comparing Convoy To Marathons

Following the conclusion of RXZ Members 8.0, the event has drawn intense public scrutiny. Held from 31 July to 1 August, the massive gathering brought over 200,000 motorcycle enthusiasts to Terengganu. However, the celebration was marred by heavy traffic disruptions, 1,800 issued summonses, 200 impounded bikes, and a sobering total of 46 accidents resulting in 11 fatalities.

In response to public backlash, the event organisers held a high-level engagement session in Putrajaya with the Road Transport Department (JPJ), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), and the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM).

During discussions on improving future logistics, the organiser raised eyebrows by proposing a temporary closure of the East Coast Expressway (LPT) for future convoys, defending the idea by comparing it to marathon road closures.

"Runner Bayar Roadtax Ke?" — The Marathon Comparison

Addressing the public outcry over the proposed East Coast Expressway (LPT1 & LPT2) shutdown, Program Director Mohd Lukhman Hassan took to social media to address critics directly.

He questioned the double standard regarding major road closures in Malaysia, comparing motorcycle convoys to athletic events:

"Full marathon events can close state and federal roads for 12 hours and it's okay. Why can't we? We are road tax payers. Do runners pay road tax too?"

He later clarified that while the team isn't actively demanding an immediate highway shutdown, they wanted to highlight that precedent exists for closing major transit routes for large-scale events. He noted that the concept of an LPT closure was originally brought up during conversations with LLM before his team echoed it lightheartedly.

PUSPAKOM-Style Pre-Registration & TTA Logistics

The tragic crash at Jabor was just one of multiple fatal accidents during RXZ Members 8.0, highlighting the severe risks of large-scale motorcycle convoys and sparking urgent calls for stricter road safety reforms in Malaysia.

To curb illegal modifications and dangerous riding in future editions, authorities and organisers discussed tighter participant filtering. One major proposal includes requiring participants to upload photos of their motorcycles during event registration to verify spec compliance.

Lukhman expressed openness to the idea but noted the massive operational challenges of manually screening 100,000 vehicles:

"We accept the suggestion, but we lack the internal capacity to approve or reject vehicle specifications at that scale... It would be like booking a Puspakom inspection for everyone before they can attend."

Additionally, organisers proposed implementing a Travel Time Arrival (TTA) schedule. Similar to festive season highway travel advisories, the TTA aims to stagger convoy departure times across different states to reduce congestion and prevent group racing on main expressways.

Standing Firm: "We Bow To Show Respect, But We Don't Let People Trample Us"

Despite the heavy statistics from this year's gathering, the organisers maintained a firm stance regarding the identity and dignity of the RXZ community.

In a passionate closing statement, Lukhman emphasized that while the community aims for a more mature and professional direction for a potential 9.0 and 10.0 edition, they will not accept public disrespect:

"Just one thing to remember: we are the RXZ nation. We bow as a sign of respect, but we do not allow people to trample on us. If trampled upon, we will fight back. We can only be bought with respect and mutual dignity ('malu mato'), not with money. Though if it's British Pounds, maybe I'll take it," he joked.

With safety agencies like MIROS, JPJ, and PDRM now directly involved in planning, the future of Malaysia's largest motorcycle gathering hangs on whether stricter regulation can successfully prevent further tragic casualties.