Loke doubles down on child seat reminder despite backlash

Transport Minister Anthony Loke has reiterated the importance of using child safety seats, amid backlash over his remarks on a recent fatal crash at the Bukit Kajang toll plaza.

Online portal Malay Mail today quoted Loke as saying that while he accepted criticisms over his widely reported remarks, there will be no compromise on advocacy for child safety.

“As ministers, whatever we do will be criticised. That’s fine, I can be patient. If people want to condemn or scold me, I can accept that. But I remain firm in reminding everyone of the importance of children’s safety,” he said.

“You can criticise me, you can condemn me, but please don’t forget, if there are children in the car, do make sure to use a child seat for their safety,” he was quoted as saying.

Yesterday, Loke reportedly revealed that preliminary police findings showed the 12-month-old victim, Amir Husayn, was not secured in a child seat when the crash occurred.

Loke had suggested the toddler’s life might have been saved had a child seat been used - a comment that drew backlash on social media.

Intensify awareness campaigns

Loke today said his ministry would intensify awareness campaigns to educate parents and guardians on the life-saving value of child safety seats.

Separately, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) also reminded parents to use child seats at all times, urging policymakers to tighten enforcement measures.

Miros, in a statement, said that while child seats or child restraint systems (CRS) had been compulsory since 2020, a 2022 study by the institute found that only 30 percent of children were properly secured in such seats.

It added that appropriately installed age-appropriate child seats can cut the risk of death in car accidents for children aged zero to four by up to 71 percent.

“Miros calls on parents and guardians to ensure that every journey with children includes the use of standard-compliant, correctly installed child seats.

“The institute also urges policymakers, enforcement agencies and industry stakeholders to intensify advocacy, education and enforcement of CRS usage in Malaysia,” it said.

The accident on Saturday involved a four-vehicle pile-up allegedly caused by brake failure of a lorry.

Eight people were injured in the crash, which involved a lorry, two SUVs and a car. The lorry driver reportedly said he jumped out of the vehicle as its brakes had failed.

The 42-year-old driver has since been arrested and is being investigated for reckless driving causing death.

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