MALACCA: If it can be done in Kelantan, then it should be done everywhere else.
That is Kelantan development coach Rosli Salleh’s view on the “basikal nyamuk” sub-culture that is prevalent among children, especially from low-income families, across the country.
Rosli, 46, has been at the forefront of grassroots development in cycling for the past decade and would be the first to defend the mosquito bike culture as one that holds immense potential benefit for the country.
“First, you have to get to know these groups and realise how much passion they have for what they do,” said Rosli.
“In Kelantan, I saw these boys forming groups with their own identities, badges and flags, apart from their ingenuity in building their own bikes. There is a lot of creativity in these boys.”
Rosli said the public was quick to dismiss mosquito bike gangs as delinquents without recognising their potential.
“Of course, which kid with a bike or deep into his hobby does not personify an attitude that reflects the interest?
“So, surely, they will be roaming the streets with an attitude. But, is that all we can see in them?
“It is because nobody pays attention to them that they become a problem.
“Many only look to discourage them, saying it is bad.
“These are children who are not sitting at home playing video games. They are active. But, nobody seems willing to do programmes for them.”
Taking a cue from the related success in Terengganu, Kelantan began organising such programmes.
At first, it was Rosli himself who scouted for talents and provided them with basic bikes to be tested in small races he organised himself, until last year, when a concerted effort to unleash the potential of the mos-quito bike children was launched.
“Last year’s programme was conducted jointly by the State Training Centre (PLN) and the Kelantan Youth Council (MBK).
“We engaged schools as children rode their mosquito bikes to school as well as during playtime,” said Rosli. MBK and the PLN held clinics in schools in the Kota Baru area.
“These clinics focused on educating the children about safety and the technical aspects of cycling, and promoted the programmes targeted at the mosquito bike community.”
Then, race day came and almost 400 children turned up on their mosquito bikes.
“These were races specifically for mosquito bikes.
“Then, whenever we held the monthly Kelantan Closed Criterium races, we held mosquito bike races as well,” said Rosli.
“It is not something to be frowned upon.
“We have produced at least six national cyclists even from Kelantan who started as mosquito bike riders — cyclists who have won Asian championship medals.”