Kulai district police chief Tok Beng Yeow said the group, aged 17 to 42, had been hiding in the oil palm plantation at Km7, Jalan Kulai-Kota Tinggi, since 3am yesterday.

However, two officers and 13 personnel from the traffic investigation and enforcement division, involved in a special operation in conjunction with Op Selamat 20, had surrounded the area, thus preventing the men from escaping.

“During the operation, most of these Mat Rempit hid in the oil palm plantation. They tried to escape via rat routes, but found themselves boxed in by the police.

“Finally, at 9am, they started to surrender one by one as they could not stand the hot conditions in the plantation. Some said they were hungry and missed the Aidilfitri delicacies,” he said in a statement today.

Tok said 140 summonses were issued for various offences, including having no driving licence and insurance, expired licences, non-standard number plates, modified exhausts and not wearing a helmet.

He added that 39 motorcycles were confiscated under Section 64 of the Road Transport Act 1987.