Barely weeks after Kota Bharu’s upgraded Sultan Ismail Petra Airport opened its brand-new departure hall, illegal motorcycle racers have turned the terminal’s dedicated flyover ramp into a drag strip, drawing alarm from residents and raising questions about oversight of public infrastructure.
Barely weeks after opening, problems have already surfaced
The newly operational departure hall at Sultan Ismail Petra Airport (LTSIP) in Pengkalan Chepa has barely had time to celebrate its opening before an unwelcome problem emerged: illegal motorcycle racers, colloquially known as mat rempit, have reportedly been using the terminal’s upper-level drop-off flyover as a racing circuit, alarming airport users and the surrounding community.
The departure hall, which forms part of the airport’s RM440 million expansion project, began operations on 19 February 2026.
‘Mat rempit’ allegedly using airport flyover as racing circuit
According to Sinar Harian, vehicles dropping off departing passengers must drive up a dedicated flyover to the upper level of the terminal building, while arrivals are handled on the ground floor below.
But the very flyover built to ease passenger drop-offs has, according to concerned residents and social media posts, become a playground for mat rempit groups particularly at night and on weekends, according to several posts on X.
Video tular menunjukkan sekumpulan dipercayai “mat rempit” melepak di kawasan drop off penumpang di Lapangan Terbang Kota Bharu, hingga menimbulkan rasa kurang selesa orang awam.
— Hobin Jang Hobin (@HobinJangHobin_) April 4, 2026
Netizen mempersoalkan bagaimana motosikal boleh berada lama di zon yang sepatutnya dikawal ketat. pic.twitter.com/H2g8zxvAaS
The elevated ramp, with its smooth surface and sweeping curves, has reportedly attracted groups of youths on modified motorcycles who use the road for high-speed runs, stunts and drag-style racing.
What was meant to ease traffic flow is now raising safety concerns
The LTSIP expansion is one of Kelantan’s most significant infrastructure investments in recent years.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has also announced plans to extend the runway by 400 metres, which would qualify LTSIP for international flight status and enable direct Hajj and Umrah flights from Kelantan to Saudi Arabia.
The new terminal boasts more than 20 airline check-in counters, a multi-storey car park, dedicated taxi lanes, and additional aerobridges, a significant leap for what was previously one of Malaysia’s busiest domestic airports operating beyond its original 1.5 million passenger design capacity.
