Johor Bahru: The Ministry of Transport (MOT) in conjunction with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) is set to engage in discussions regarding the prohibition of seat belt buckle disablers, known as 'dummy buckles', currently available in the market. Transport Minister Anthony Loke highlighted the need for these discussions to focus on the enforcement roles of each ministry, as the sale of these devices is noted to contravene road safety regulations.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister Loke emphasized that the usage of dummy buckles should not be permitted, pointing out that enforcement against their sale is under the jurisdiction of KPDN rather than MOT. He explained that modern vehicles typically come equipped with sensors that alert occupants when seat belts are not fastened, which are circumvented by dummy buckles, thereby violating safety regulations. Loke made these remarks during a press conference following the Chinese New Year Celebration event and the launch of the Malaysia Maritime Single Window (MMSW) at the KSL Convention Centre.
In related developments, Negeri Sembilan Road Transport Department (JPJ) director Hanif Yusabra Yusuf noted an increasing concern regarding the use of devices to deactivate seat belt alarms, as well as improper seat belt usage among vehicle owners. During the Chinese New Year Special Operation (Op TBC), the most frequent offence recorded was the failure to wear seat belts, totaling 195 notices, with over 30 percent linked to the use of dummy buckles.
Additionally, Minister Loke's previous ban on the use of three-pin sockets and USB ports in all express buses remains in effect. This ban, initiated on November 6 last year, will continue until new wiring policies and guidelines are finalized by the MOT. A standard for the installation of cables and sockets in buses is being developed by the Energy Commission and the Standard and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM), anticipated to be ready by May.
The decision to impose the ban followed an incident where a teenage boy died, believed to have been electrocuted while charging his phone in a socket on an express bus at Penang Sentral on November 1 of the previous year.