PETALING JAYA: There should be no compromise on the basic safety features for low-cost cars, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said of the RM22,000 Perodua Axia E.
“RM22,000 cars should not be without minimum safety features like anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC),” the MCA president said in a Facebook post on Sunday (June 18).
He added that while he is happy that large car makers are keeping their consumers’ pockets in mind with plenty of choice and a range of specifications, there should be no compromise on driver and passenger safety.
"Certain items like ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), and ESC should not be left out just to bring the vehicle price down to ‘Rahmah’ levels,” said Dr Wee.
He also shared news reports on the absence of the ABS, EBD, and ESC features in the vehicle.
Dr Wee said while he understood that many lower-income households are tightly squeezed for finances, the government must find more ways to help them.
However, he said that does not mean vehicle safety specifications are reduced to satisfy a price point.
“Studies have shown that ESC and other anti-skid tech in cars can prevent about 40% of deaths and collisions from crashes due to loss of control," said Dr Wee.
"It is why the Transport Ministry under Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai’s tenure made it mandatory for all new cars to have ESC starting from June 1, 2018,” he added.
Dr Wee said both ABS and ESC are decades-old technologies that have been proven to significantly reduce accidents and added that the cost of these features has also reduced significantly.
The former transport minister added that unsafe cars are not only a danger to drivers and passengers, but to other road users too.
“I hope that the maker of the Axia E manual, which many have started calling the ‘Kosong Spec’ car, will rethink the latest model that comes without safety features like ABS, EBD, and ESC as in the previous Axia E. Even central locking is missing from the latest Axia E,” he said.
"I'm made to understand that the Axia E's spec is based on approvals given under NCAP in 2014. But the times have moved on, and we have better knowledge and expertise in this field,” added Dr Wee.
He said the lack of basic safety features in this car could set a worrying precedent for future "ultra low-cost" vehicles.
Dr Wee added that manufacturers could use this as an excuse to exclude even the most basic of safety features
"During my time as transport minister, we made ABS mandatory in motorcycles above 150cc. Will manufacturers find a way to even further reduce the cost of new motorcycles and do away with the ABS, for instance,” he said.
Dr Wee said he raised these concerns in the hope that the government will not regress and ensure that these basic safety features are retained in new passenger vehicles.
