The Malaysian Paediatric Association (MPA) is deeply concerned with a recent report on the use of dummy seatbelt buckles by parents and caregivers, as highlighted in a local newspaper.
These counterfeit devices, which disable seatbelt alarms without ensuring proper restraint, pose a serious threat to the safety of child passengers and reflect a troubling disregard for basic road safety.
These devices not only violate the intent of safety laws but also mislead vehicle users into believing that safety systems are in place when they are not.
Malaysia continues to record a distressingly high number of road traffic accidents, with a significant proportion of fatalities involving children.
In 2016, the Ministry of Health (MOH) recorded 308 fatalities among children under five years old due to injuries, poisoning, and external causes, including 107 (34.7 per cent) attributed to motor vehicle accidents (MVA), which are preventable deaths.
Key contributing factors include the non-use of appropriate child restraint systems (CRS) based on the child’s age and size, incorrect or improper use of CRS, allowing children to ride in the front seat or on adults’ laps, limited awareness among parents and caregivers about child passenger safety, and weak enforcement of seatbelt and CRS regulations—particularly in private vehicles and rural areas.
MPA strongly condemns the use of dummy buckles, which give a false sense of security while placing children at risk of severe injury or death.
As paediatricians, we witness firsthand the devastating consequences of road traffic trauma. This is especially disheartening when these incidents are preventable through responsible adult behaviour and proper enforcement.
We also note with concern the lack of consistent enforcement of seatbelt laws, particularly for rear-seat passengers and children. Despite existing regulations under the Road Transport Act and the CRS mandate, enforcement remains weak and inconsistent. As a result, public compliance is low, and child safety is compromised daily.
MPA remains strongly dedicated to advancing child passenger safety. We will continue to collaborate closely with enforcement agencies, regulatory authorities, and research bodies such as the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) to raise public awareness and provide evidence-based recommendations aimed at improving road safety for children in Malaysia.
We commend the efforts by the government in gazetting the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) (Amendment) Order 2025, which bans the import of dummy seatbelt buckles starting December 31, 2025. However, even the best regulations and laws will be ineffective without proper enforcement by the relevant authorities.
Therefore, we urge that this initiative be closely monitored and enforced to ensure its intended impact on public and child safety. Other recommendations include to:
- Intensify nationwide enforcement not only against the use of dummy seatbelt buckles, but also on seatbelt and child restraint system (CRS) compliance, including the imposition of appropriate penalties.
- Conduct public education campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of improper restraints and the importance of child safety in vehicles.
- Ensure affordable access to approved CRS devices for all families, especially in underserved communities.
MPA reiterates our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of every child in Malaysia. Let us not wait for another tragedy before we take meaningful action.
Assoc Prof Dr Mohamad Ikram Ilias is the president of the Malaysian Paediatric Association (MPA).
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