Mandatory child seat in vehicles may be implemented in 2019

The enforcement of special seats for carrying babies and children in vehicles may only be implemented in 2019, said Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi.

He said the government needed at least four years to implement the law as it was subject to certain procedures.

"This includes the process of advocacy for the public to receive their feedback within two years, in addition to another two years for trial," he told reporters after launching the Child Restraint System campaign at the ministry on Thursday.

He said Malaysia, as a member of the World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations (WP29), needed to adopt the rules of the United Nations as a quality benchmark for automotives.

He said beginning January 1 this year, all vehicle manufacturers would be required to adhere to ISOFIX, which stands for 'International Standard for Attachment Points For Child Safety Seats In Passenger Cars'.

He said parents need to be aware of child safety in vehicles, as statistics in 2013 showed that of 53 children and babies involved in accidents, 31 had died.

"The registration of new motor vehicles have also increased to 1.5 million per year, and it is important to provide awareness about child seats to be practiced by our society," he said.

Ab Aziz also urged the public to buy accredited child seats and that met international standards even though they may cost between RM600 to RM4,000.

"With the start of this campaign, I hope local companies will be able to produce child seats that can be sold at lower prices, because most child seats in the market are imported," he said.

Earlier, Aziz also surveyed vehicles equipped with ISOFIX in the ministry's compound, and was briefed on how to use the 'Child Seat" by a representative of the ASEAN New Car Assessment Programme.