Many of the kingdom’s netizens voiced their displeasure when the video clip of the incident was uploaded to Facebook on the Hatyai Fanpage Group account on Sept 27, several days after the actual incident.
Most of them wondered whether the action by foreign motorcyclists in deliberately blocking incoming vehicles in Thailand without any assistance from local authorities was legal, with many describing it as “taking the local law into their own hands”.
The 1.05 minute video clip showed several Malaysian motorcyclists who were believed to be marshals of the convoy, and unaccompanied by local authorities, blocking other vehicles at the busy traffic junction to let the convoy of motorcycles pass through.
Netizens also lamented the high speed the big and powerful motorcycles were driven during the convoy.
Bernama was made to understand, the incident, which drew sharp rebuke from southern Thailand social media users, occurred at the Lumphu intersection, Muang district in Narathiwat province, southern Thailand at 10.32am on Sept 22.
Since the short video clip made its rounds in the popular fanpage account in Facebook, it has been viewed by about 646,000 of the social media users and attracted 1,300 comments, mostly negative, as well as drew 4,100 likes.
The video clip posting had also attracted comments from Malaysian social media users, who mainly apologised for the action of their countrymen.
Facebook user “Fairuz Abdul Latif” posted a message which read: “To all Thailand citizens, thousands of apologies for rude riders from Malaysia.”
Another user, who identified himself as Wan Kel, said: “This is madness. We are sorry these Malaysians behaved like this in your lovely country.”
Meanwhile, a check with the Muang police station in Narathiwat today indicated it had not received any complaints or police report from any member of the public regarding the incident on Sept 22.
“So far no one has filed any complaint about the incident,” said a police officer on duty when contacted by Bernama today, but he added that they will gather more information about the incident.
The police officer, who declined to identify himself, said it was a bit surprising to watch the brazen attitude of foreign motorcyclists in the video clip.
“When I first saw the video clip, I was like, ‘Oh! How could they do something like that or they think they could do anything in Thailand?’,” he said.
Narathiwat, he said, was a popular destination for Malaysian big bike convoys as well as tourists and they have never faced similar problems in the past.
Kelab Chopper Garage Kelantan (CGK) later made an open apology to the Narathiwat governor and Thais for the incident.
Its president, Diami Yusoff, said a letter had been sent through the Thai consulate in Kota Bharu this morning.
He said the convoy had 57 motorcycles and the action was not intended to hurt anyone’s feelings.
He pledged to follow all local rules the next time the Mahabbah motorcycle programme was held. It was intended to have closer ties with tahfiz religious schools and mosques in Thailand, and also present aid from members.