Updated 8/12/2008 2320 hours!

I read on the Saturday (6/12/2008) Star newspaper that the driver of the car or the fourth person who has no seat belt to wear at the rear seat will not be fined although the law is there after taking into consideration the rest of the factors involved.

*** updated ***

Come 1^st January 2009, Malaysians are required by law to wear the rear seat belts while traveling in a car. I have nothing against that law as it is for our safety and bla bla bla… The law states that all the rear passenger of a car must wear the safety belts and therefore, it is against the law to carry more than three people in your back seat since there are only three seat belts available.

Now, this is the thing that hit me. Like being hit by a balloon filled of water. It’s not painful yet a bit unpleasant and made me wet…

What about those family who has four kids? Let’s say they are aged 5, 6, 7 and 8 years old. Are you going to leave one at home just because of the new law? What happened to the family holidays and Cuti Cuti Malaysiathat the government has been eagerly promoting? They would tell you go buy an MPV or get a second car. Or worse still, just leave one behind…

They don’t care. Those people who got together and come up with this law don’t care. They are one of those who are provided with a car by the government and with their fat salaries and “other” incomes, they can then by a big fat MPV for their wives. Why should they care?

If the price of an MPV is as cheap as a Proton Saga then may be that would make some senses but you can wait until the cat plays the fiddle and the cow jumps over the moon since that is not going to happen. Not in this lifetime for sure… Imagine if that happens… You can then buy a Perodua Kancil for a price of a motorbike…

When later you start reading news about how an 8 year old child died after being left alone since there was not enough seat belts in the car or a 6 year old got kidnapped while taking the bus alone, due to no more seat belt in the car, so that she can join her parents somewhere, you will start pointing finger to the authorities… But, the problem is always that when you point a finger, there will always be at least three other fingers pointing back at you. Try point your finger to someone now and you would see what I mean. You just can’t win. Even when the little dog laughs when the dish runs away with spoon, You still can’t win…

So what can you do? If you can’t afford an MPV or a second car, do not make more than 3 children. You can forget about your extended families as they do not have seat belts reserved for them anymore. Grandpa and Grandma can no longer join the fun… You can also choose to use our “world class” public transportation system to go around with you whole family. Which world is our world class referring to again? Well those are just some ways that I can suggest to you. Think about other ways yourself please….

Why is the rear seat belt very important? It is the same principle as the seat belt on an airplane. It does not really save you but in an event when your plane is going down, you would not be bouncing everywhere and messing up the whole cabin with your blood and etc. You keep the mess to your own seat. The same goes to the rear seat belt in the car as well. You would not see something like the picture above anymore. Neater, isn’t it?

Well it doesn’t hurt me yet as I only have one child and today is Friday. So, hey didle didle, have a good weekends and Salam Aidil Adha. That dies not rhyme… So, sue me!