PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong reiterates the need for essential safety components such as the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) in budget cars.
He said the government had made it mandatory for these safety features in all cars and Perodua could not use the reason that the National Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) had given it the greenlight by citing 2014 specifications.
"Perodua should look beyond 2014 as the safety features in vehicles have taken a quantum leap since. ABS was expensive then, but now, with the advent of technology, it is a must," Dr Wee said in a Facebook video.
"Using the ABS and ESC during an emergency saves lives as the car will not swerve when the brakes are applied, which is very important," the Ayer Hitam MP said.
Dr Wee said it would not only save the lives of the driver and passengers, but also pedestrians and those in other vehicles who are at risk.
"More than 60% of road users who were killed were motorcyclists and if they are given protection, it is most welcome.
"As such, if someone is buying a car, the safety features should be an integral part of the vehicle and the government had a good reason for making these features mandatory," the MCA president said.
Dr Wee said about 100,000 Perodua vehicles priced at RM22,000 will be on the roads in the next five years, where the risk is not only to the drivers, but to all road users.
"We need to act now and not regret later and I will support any proposals by the government to give incentives or subsidies to car manufacturers to ensure essential safety features are in place," added Dr Wee.
