The Transport Ministry’s move to mandate the use of child car seats beginning 2020 is a necessary one and much delayed but better late than never. Nonetheless, that hasn’t stopped social media from exploding with opinions on the initiative.
Amidst all the positive and negative comments, one of the hot topics has been about the cost of a certified child seat. Yes, they aren’t the most affordable but plenty of parties have stepped up with some good deals. BMW Malaysia is the latest.
In collaboration with Safe ‘n’ Sound and Childline Foundation, online registration is now open for the subsidised infant carrier car seats that are priced at only RM100 and limited to just 150 units. Only households earning less than RM3,000 monthly are eligible to apply.
The snskidz Ace infant car seats are of the rear-facing variety and are applicable to be used from birth to children weighing up to 13kg. It carries the ECE R44-04 certification.
“With only 30 per cent of drivers using child car seats for their children, it became more imperative for us as automakers to press on for child safety, regardless of the challenges we encounter in the fight for its education and accessibility. It is encouraging to see the Ministry of Transport take a definite step into making child car seats mandatory in the year to come, but at the same time, recognise that there are parents who may have limited access to them – therefore providing tax breaks and reduced excise fee for child car seats. In support of that, we are now bringing the subsidy programme online to make infant carrier car seats accessible to households with income less than RM3,000 a month,” said Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia.
“Parents will also be educated on the proper ways of choosing and installing the child car seats to ensure the utmost safety of their children upon collection of the infant carrier car seat,” added Childline Foundation’s Datin Wong Poai Hong.
Parents of infants or those expecting a newborn can register here for the subsidised infant carrier car seat beginning now until 15 December 2019. Selected ones will be notified and must make the RM100 payment prior to picking up the car seat.