KUALA LUMPUR: Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu?s suggestion to ban high capacity motorcycles on highways was strongly opposed by motorcycling associations yesterday.

Superbikers' Club Malaysia president Lt-Gen (Rtd) Tan Sri Mohamad Ngah said that by forcing motorcyclists off the highways and onto trunk roads, there was a possibility that even more accidents would occur.

"If they don't allow the use of superbikes on highways, even more motorcyclists will be involved in accidents. Highways are much safer.

"If you ride along the trunk roads, there are a lot more curves than on highways, the surface in not as good and the lighting is generally poor."

Samy Vellu had said on Monday that superbikers would be banned from the North-South Expressway (NSE) if they continued to flout traffic laws.

He claimed to have witnessed a group of riders on high-powered machines racing at 170kph on the NSE recently.

He wants to meet with superbikers associations on the issue and impose a ban on the motorcycles if the members did not comply with the rules.

Malacca Sportbikers president Mohd Effendi Tajuddin said the suggestion was not feasible.

"If  he wants to ban them on highways, but provides an alternative in the form of a bike lane, then it's acceptable.

"But if there is no alternative, if will affect the daily routine of many."

Effendi said that with the increase in fuel prices, many had turned to motorcycles for commuting.

"Many of them commute along stretcher of highways like from Seremban to Kuala Lumpur or Malacca to Seremban.

Armand Ali, site administrator for Msportbike.com, a popular website and forum for motorcyclists, said the forums were abuzz with postings on the issue.

"I thin his comments are unfounded. Maybe he?s nor aware that cars can speed above 170kph."

He felt that enforcement was the solution so that motorcyclists flouted the rules were fined.