SUNGAI SIPUT, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- Many people are in support of having superbikes banned on highways, said Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

"I have received many calls of support (for the ban)... they support because superbikes take up a lot of the road," he said.

He said that legal officers at his ministry were drafting the proposal for the ban before submitting it to the government for approval.

"We will pursue this as our offer to discuss the matter with superbike owners apparently has fallen on deaf ears and instead they talk big...it's okay your bike is big, but don't have a big mouth," he told a press conference after presenting Hari Raya contributions to the needy here Saturday.

Samy Vellu said the proposal for superbikes to be banned was being made in the interest of motorists' safety and toll-paying highway users.

"Those paying toll have to be given priority...not people getting a free ride on a tolled highway," he said, adding that the issue cropped up because there were superbikers who rode above the speed limit and also raced on highways.

"I also had a 650cc motorcycle before...roads are not meant for racing, everyone must follow the law. I will ask the Police to go after these speedsters," he said.

On calls for superbikes to be made to pay tolls, Samy Vellu said the government had made a decision that they would be exempt and that this would remain.

When the issue broke out, Superbikes Association of Malaysia (SAM) executive chairman Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said that the government should improve motorcycle lanes to reduce accidents involving such machines and not resort to banning them on highways.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Deputy Information Minister, had also said that besides the better lanes, firmer action on traffic offenders would be another initiative that could be taken by the government