KUALA LUMPUR – Transport Minister Anthony Loke has doubled down on his call for parents to use child safety seats, saying the protection of young lives must come before political backlash, after a one-year-old boy was killed in last weekend’s crash at the Bukit Kajang toll plaza.
His comments, made after revealing that the toddler was not strapped into a child seat, drew widespread criticism online. But Loke today defended his stance.
“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 said, as reported by Malay Mail.
The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) has presented grim statistics of the persistently low use of child restraint systems. Though mandatory since January 2020, nationwide compliance stood at just 30% as of 2022.
Police records show that between 2014 and 2023, an average of 434 children were killed annually in road accidents – the equivalent of eight child fatalities every week.
MIROS noted that properly fitted seats can cut the risk of death by more than half for children aged four and below.
The Bukit Kajang crash, which killed 12-month-old Amir Husayn and injured several others, was allegedly caused by brake failure in a lorry. The 42-year-old driver has been arrested and is under investigation for reckless driving causing death.
While MIROS continues to probe the lorry’s braking system and broader industry safety lapses, Loke said his ministry’s immediate focus would be intensifying public awareness on child safety.
“Whatever criticism I face, I remain firm in reminding everyone of the importance of children’s safety,” he said. — September 30, 2025