Stern Action Should Be Taken Against the Sales of Dangerous Car Accessories

On 12th February, 2025, Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported that the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) has issued a warning against the use of dummy buckles as seatbelt alarm stoppers, which can compromise a car’s safety features, particularly in the event of an accident.

MIROS has highlighted that “A road safety activist has urged the government and police to reveal the number of fatal road accidents throughout the past decade in which the victims had not worn their seat belts.”  According to MIROS this accessory can disrupt the optimal functioning of safety components such as airbags, potentially jeopardizing the safety of both the driver and passengers in the event of a collision.

Negeri Sembilan Road Transport Department (JPJ) director Hanif Yusabra Yusuf was quoted by media stating that the highest number of notices issued during the Special Chinese New Year Operation was for not wearing seat belts, with 195 offences recorded, of which over 30 per cent of them were found to be using the accessory, which resembles a real seat belt buckle.

Despite efforts dating back to 2020 to raise awareness about the risks associated with dummy buckles, their sale persists in the market. Furthermore, the absence of legislation prohibiting the sale of such products remains a concern.

CAP had raised this issue a number of times. We reiterate our call and urge the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living to prohibit the sale of dummy buckles in the market, including online.

Mohideen Abdul Kader
President
Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)

Press Statement, 15 February 2025