The Transport Ministry has dismissed talk that the enforcement on the use of child car seats will come about in 2016. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai says that there are no plans to have mandatory usage of child seats that early.
He said seats cost anywhere from RM750 to RM4,000 each and would be a burden to many parents. “We understand it is expensive, that is why we are not enforcing it yet. However, the ministry encourages their use as they keep children safe,” he told reporters. Child seats meeting the required standards such as ECE R44-certified units can be found for around RM400.
Last week, it was reported that usage will be made compulsory by 2017, which is the original date proposed for the move. In June, the government said it was looking to propose an amendment to the Road Transport Act 1987 to regulate the use of child seats in cars by 2017.
This was later moved to 2019, deputy transport minister Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi saying that the extension was due to the fact that “it may take time to promote this among the road users as it involved more cost for them.” The latest move to bring it back to a 2017 timeframe was announced by Road Safety Council honorary treasurer Ahmed Ismail Amin.
Meanwhile, on the same subject, The Star reports that some parents are urging the government to bring forward the mandatory use of child seats in cars as early as possible, instead of the 2019 (or 2017) timeframe.
One said that if it was compulsory for adults to wear safety belts, children should not be exempted from similar safety requirements. Another said that making the matter clearly defined by law would mean that parents cannot be lax in strapping their kids down.
As for the subject of cost, those interviewed said the government could look into subsidising the cost of certain car seats to make them more affordable, and suggested those who found new seats too expensive could shop around for used child seats.
Here at paultan.org, we’ve long stressed before on the paramount importance of using child seats in cars, and recently adopted a proactive role in the matter – we bought a total of 165 units of ECE R44-compliant child seats (60 non-Isofix and 50 Isofix seats are sponsored by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia) and have offered free use of these child car seats to 165 Malaysian families over the Hari Raya month.
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Told some friends about this, but they prefer their kids to look forward instead of looking at the rear of the car.
Man’s got his priorities straight…
What do you plan to do if your child refuses to stay in the seat?
“your child”.. you as the parents if also dunno how to take care of your child, then go to lvl 14 kolos and die laa jahanam
Same goes to “What do you do if your children refuse to eat?”
Both cost their lives!
Nothing is safer than strapping your child to the car seat. No matter how careful you are… the child’s life will be endangered in case of accidents. And that’s why we called it ACCIDENTS! We can’t predict nor anticipate this to happen especially when driving ok?
What is RM4000 when compared to the life of your loved ones? Personally I don’t skimp on this.. and I have 3 car seats and make sure that they buckle up whenever we go traveling.
In other words, in the eye of the govt, safety of our children not important for the next 4 years.
Well done, 47%. Biar anak korang mati, janji kerajaan kumpul GST untuk keselamatan anak anda.
“He said seats cost anywhere from RM750 to RM4,000 each and would be a burden to many parents”
What a LOAD OF CRAP.
What seats cost $4000??? I would really like to know. Can really bling out my childs ride. Lined with gold leaf ka?
Another minister that has lost touch with prices.
If expensive, you do us all a favour and whack Kastom on our behalf for the import duty on imported child seats.
He forgot locally made child seats eh? or they are so bad none of them conform to standards is it?
Another example of a flip flop decision making by our pathetic fed govt. They can’t even make up their minds even after a string of child deaths.
I strongly support the mandatory use of child seats. However I get a feeling that the government would take the opportunity to rip off the rakyat if it is made mandatory (ie. impose high taxes, sole vendors link to some minister’s relatives etc)
1 cheapo child car seat costs RM400 at Jusco which is easily half month salary of basic civil servant.
This move can be seen as racist because most of the civil servants can’t really afford to buy child car seat.
And attempt to make child car seat into law is an attempt to trap these low income people.
I saw at Aeon Big yesterday, got RM92+- car seat, also ECE R44/04 compliant.
cendol, you’re better than this. Safety is necessary, the govt need to give incentive. Though I understand your concern of how instead of giving incentive, some cronies’ pockets take precedence.
I just bought an ECE compliant seat also. A bit cushy then regular at RM200. Is there any law
if can’t afford a child seat don’t drive ! if you can afford a car why not a child seat ? lame excuse !!! is a child’s life less valueable ? everything also subsidy by governet that’s why many are so lazy
2016 too early to setup crony co to manufacture the child seat…need more time…n funding ^^
U turn folks. U turn U turn U turn.
Priorities – people can afford to pay RM400 for some plastic bodykits for their Perodua but cannot afford to get a regular certified child seat for RM400? No one is asking you to get the Britax BabySafe or things like that also…
*facepalm*
wow.. berlipat2.. banyak air ni hahaahaa
No mandatory because it is expensive?
More like because none of the minister have secure a child seat supplier yet.
Haishh… Just make it compulsory for each car maker to give 1 child seat free for family cars la. It will definitely cause them their profit. Make it a precedence, others will follow.
always like to do these LPPL policies, haiz….
I was wondering if those RM100-RM200 car seats (Seatbelt type) which sold in hypermarket is good enough… They are not certified but they are affordable… and the construction look sturdy!!! perhaps can get miros or paultan side to do a review….
I bought one for my child buy it was Australian standard. Read about it on the net that it was not the same as ECE R44. The what to do with the seat? Although I heard Oz’s standard is higher than Europe’s though.