17/08/2025

theSunday Special XV ON SUNDAY AUG 17, 2025

Secure the kids, please!

A CHILD car seat company recently invited me for a product showcase. This is where the company will show its latest products, technologies as well as share its latest pricing. Being a family man, I usu ally attend these briefings. It is also good for me to know about the latest happenings since it broadens my per spective about occupant safety. No harm done by attending, I figure. But there is one thing that was mentioned that deeply disturbed me. It went some where along the lines of, “child care seats are legally required in Malaysia, but you know lah, no one enforces it. Normal lah, in Malaysia”. That had me thinking, are we really that naive? Do we really just leave things as they are and don’t improve. I know the answer to that is yes and yes. But that is a big pity. Lots has been written about safety, lots has been discussed in kopitiams and in the ivory towers of our great nation. But unfortunately, the reality on the ground is status quo. After the brief, I returned to my cave to do some research. Is it really legally required for children to be in a child seat now? And this is what I have found. The government, specifi cally the transport ministry, announced in 2018 that child seats will be mandatory in 2020. Come November of 2019, the ministry then reminded everyone that child car seats will become mandatory by January of 2020, but changed its tune a little. The minister in charge then, said the enforcement will not begin straight away. Drivers were not to be penalised for the first six months after the ruling comes into effect. Then, silence. Three years later, in 2023, reports began to surface that the government “is still studying the enforcement of using child car seats in vehi cles”. The ruling never went into effect; in fact, it was post poned indefinitely. Sad, isn’t it?There are plenty of videos on social media showing chil dren hanging out of win dows and sunroofs of cars on the road. There are even more dis turbing videos of children being flung out of cars in accidents. Lives have unnecessarily

WRITTEN BY KESHY DHILLON

been lost. But why? I think I may have an idea on why the hesitation to make it a legal requirement. Child seats are not cheap. They cost upwards of a few hundred ringgit and stretch all the way to a few thou sand, depending on the type and its features. Making it a legal require ment will force families to spend money so as not to get fined at a roadblock. The fine for a child not being latched in was sup posed to be in the region of RM2,000. Then there is the case of families having more than two children. What happens then? Will they be forced to buy bigger cars? And what about older cars? Isofix mounts, the popular method of securing a child seat was not made mandatory until about 2011. The year differs around the world, depending on the market. But to be fair, there are seats that can work without Isofix mounts. So if seats are expensive, income is low and families are large, how do you then pass a ruling making this a legal requirement? Making it a legal require ment will make the govern ment of the day extremely unpopular, and there is the reason. The lack of political will. Because no ruling party wants to be blamed for mak ing it a requirement and unnecessarily burdening the rakyat, Malaysian children are still not required to be strapped into a proper seat when the car is on the move. Until and unless we have a government that is willing to stick its neck out for the sake of the lives of our young ones, we will continue to see children put in harms way. But is that really true? You, the parent, uncle, aunty, cousin can play a part. If you don’t have a child seat, at least secure a child with a seat belt no matter the dis tance or the speed. I am sure all cars have them and I am quite sure that will make a huge differ ence.

Practicality at its core Proton reveals e.MAS 5 compact EV

PROTON has offered a first glimpse of the forthcoming e.MAS 5, the second vehicle in its e.MAS electric vehicle series, marking a signifi cant step in the national carmaker’s electrifica tion strategy. Although the full car remains partially con cealed to preserve anticipation, the preview unveiled several technical and design details that

Voice recognition is available in both English and Malay through Proton’s Atlas Auto system, shared with the latest Proton X50. A crystal-style gear selector and two-tone steering wheel add a touch of sophistication to the cabin. Storage space is another strong suit of the e.MAS 5. With 32 compartments throughout the

signal Proton’s ambitions in the affordable EV space. Two variants will be available at launch: the Prime and the Premium, each offering differ ent battery capacities sup plied by CATL. The Premium version is fitted with a larger LFP (lithium

vehicle, owners will find ample places to stow everyday items. The boot offers 375 litres of space, expandable to 1,320 litres when the rear seats are folded. One of the standout features is the 70-litre front trunk (frunk), which includes hydraulic struts for added conven ience. Charging infra structure concerns have been addressed with the

iron phosphate) battery, deliver ing an estimated driving range of 325km, while the Prime is equipped with a smaller unit, offering approximately 280km on a single charge. Despite its compact exterior, the e.MAS 5 sur prises with its spacious interior. Proton claims the model comfortably seats five adults, made possible by the EV’s flat floor design, which allows for greater legroom at the rear. This was validated during on-site testing, where five larger-framed individuals were able to sit with ease and ample room. Stylistically, the car embraces a minimalist, rounded silhouette with smooth contours and aerodynamic elements reminiscent of the Smart range. Design highlights include feather-like LED headlights, 16-inch aerodynamically optimised wheels, and semi-concealed door handles. The Premium variant adds a dual-tone roof for a floating visual effect, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. The interior is centred around a 14.6-inch high-definition touchscreen display, powered by an automotive-grade processor and offering sup port for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

inclusion of a real-time charging map. Fast charging is efficient, with the battery able to charge from 30% to 80% in just 21 minutes. Although the e.MAS 5 is not performance focused; it is agile where it matters most, and it accelerates from 0 to 50kph in 3.9 seconds, ideal for urban traffic manoeuvres. Power is delivered to the rear wheels via a sin gle electric motor, supported by a rear multi-link suspension setup for improved ride comfort and handling. Safety has also been prioritised, with six air bags and an Adas (Advanced Driver Assistance System) suite comprising 12 intelligent features, including adaptive cruise control, traffic sign rec ognition, and lane departure warning. To introduce the e.MAS 5 to Malaysians nationwide, Pro-Net has launched the MISI 5 preview tour, which will visit five major regions across the country. As Proton prepares to enter the competitive compact EV segment, the e.MAS 5 is positioned as a practical, tech-savvy, and family-friendly offering aimed at accelerating local EV adoption.