Past cases of a baby or child falling out of a car may cause uneasiness to any parent. Two years ago, a two-year-old boy nearly died after falling out of a car on the North-South Expressway (PLUS) when the vehicle driven by his father lost control after being hit by another car. Fortunately, a lorry driver was quick to rescue the child and bring him to his father.
The frightening situation is a nightmare for any parent. Parents must do their best to ensure the safety of themselves and their children to avoid any misfortune on the road. Placing their babies and young kids in a child safety seat is one of the responsible and necessary actions.
Enforcement of child safety seats
For your information, the government has enforced the use of a child safety seat or a ‘Child Restraint System’ (CRS) in private vehicles, beginning January 1, 2020.
Following the enforcement, children with a height of 135cm and below must be placed in a child safety seat according to height and weight levels based on the United Nations Regulation R44 or R129.
According to a report by Sinar Harian on July 1, 2020, the Ministry of Transport has continued this regulation based on the safety of children riding in vehicles. The enforcement activities focus on educating, advising and reminding the public about the importance of child safety seats.
The following is a guide on the use of child safety seats prepared by Bernama based on the information from the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS):
Subsidy of 50% or up to RM150 for the purchase of child safety seats for B40 families
To ensure the use of child safety seats in cars, the government, through Budget 2022, has allocated a subsidy of 50% or up to RM150 for the purchase of child safety seats for B40 families.
Here is how it works. If the child safety seat’s price is RM300 and below, the subsidy recipient will enjoy a subsidy of 50%. Meanwhile, if the price is RM301 and above, the maximum subsidy will be RM150.
According to Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, the government has allocated RM30 million for this subsidy which will benefit 188,000 B40 families.
Eligibility requirements
As shared by The Rakyat Post, applicants must meet the following conditions to apply for the subsidy:
- Belongs to the B40 household category (Note: Key data reference from ‘Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat’ (BPR) 2021 recipients based on information received by LHDN/e-Kasih ICU)
- Aged 21 years and above
- Have a child or adopted/foster child aged 12 and under
- Citizens residing in Malaysia
- 1 family is eligible to claim a subsidy for 1 child safety seat
How to apply for the subsidy
In order to enjoy the subsidy, applicants must submit their application through www.mycrs.gov.my.
The website will only be activated and open for applications starting March 1, 2022.
How to check the application status
You can check your application status through www.mycrs.gov.my starting April 1, 2022.
If your application is approved, you can redeem the subsidy through a purchase of a child safety seat at a rebate price from an authorised seller who will be listed on the MIROS website.
For your information, MIROS will approve stores and vendors trained as Child Occupant Safety Advisors (COSAs). This is to ensure buyers are taught the correct way to install a child safety seat in the car.
Ensure the safety aspects of your car
We believe no parent wants to risk their child’s life. The cost of getting a child safety seat may be burdensome, but please try to get at least a basic child safety seat.
If eligible, apply for the subsidy to purchase a child safety seat, beginning March 1. May the subsidy ease your financial burden to some extent.
In addition, take care of every aspect of your vehicle and driving. Inspect and maintain your vehicle regularly to ensure your vehicle is always in good condition.
Finally, make sure your vehicle has valid insurance and road tax. With Bjak, you can pay for your insurance and road tax in a lump sum or instalments. Select the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) payment option to enjoy interest-free instalments. Start by getting car insurance quotes at Bjak for free.
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