PETALING JAYA: Bikers are revving up clouds of disapproval at Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu?s proposal to ban big bikes from expressways. 

Samy Vellu made the suggestion after seeing four high-powered motorcycles going at 170kph on two lanes of a stretch of the North-South Expressway on Sunday. 

Deputy Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is Super Bike Association of Malaysia executive chairman, said he had high regard for Samy Vellu?s spirit to reduce accidents but "speed is not a contributing factor to road accidents but the attitude of the riders". 

He said better motorcycle lanes on expressways and firmer action on traffic offenders were solutions to reduce accidents. 

Zahid admitted that 60% of road accidents involved motorcycles but they were not super bikes. 

"The dead are motorcyclists aged between 18 and 30 while super bike riders are mostly 35 and above," he told Bernama. 

Penang Motor Sports Club president Bulldog Kuan Huah Chin said it was unfair to ban motorcyclists from expressways because of a "few bad apples". 

"Those who speed on the road also include car drivers, especially those who drive Mercedes, Porches and Ferrari cars. 

"Why should the ban only involve motorcyclists and not car drivers?" said Kuan, a former racer. 

Chua Chern Kwang, 40, who owns a motorcycle service workshop said: "If high-capacity motorcycles should be banned because of speeding, why not high-performance cars?" 

Francis Ng, 49, who commutes to work daily on his 1,300cc bike, said that it would definitely affect his daily life. 

"I travel on my motorbike to work and attend meetings and I use the expressways all the time," he said. 

Perlis Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said: "I have seen four Kancils speeding on the highway. Is it fair to ban all Kancils from the highways." 

Johor Motorcyclists Association president Rahim Ahmad said members were angry with the proposal as it would inconvenience a lot of people. 

"Not all of us are speed fiends, a lot of us are easy riders and follow the traffic rules when we are out with our bikes," he said.