by IZZAT RATNA

The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) said it is not ready to implement the new automatic emergency E-call device on new cars which has been scheduled for January next year.

President Datuk Aishah Ahmad said the mandatory fixing of the device would raise the cost of cars in an already challenging market.

She said the industry also wants more studies to be done on whether the E-call device — which would automatically send out emergency calls following accidents — should be made mandatory.

Aishah said carmakers would pass the cost of installing the device to consumers, which would dampen the already soft market sentiment.

“Manufacturers would eventually have to incur more costs to support higher import and excise duty, coupled with higher Goods and Services Tax.

“We do not have the technical specifications yet, so we cannot determine how much more it would cost to the consumer — but I am certain that it would be substantial.

“We are also not happy that the new system would be produced and marketed by a single supplier and there is no guarantee for sustainability,” she said.

Aishah said MAA has written to the prime minister on its concerns, adding that the association also needs to be convinced that the E-call is necessary.

“After the technical specifications are all in place, the industry needs approximately three years following clear guidelines of the E-call to be comfortable of it to be fully regulated.”

Aishah said nations in Europe have not made E-call mandatory and were only planning to implement the system next year after extensive studies to assess the impact of the system on society.

“Our concern right now is that Russia is the only country in the world that has implemented E-call, while no other countries — especially in Asia — have adopted the system.

“Even Japan has not made the regulation mandatory. In fact, it concluded that the system should not be made mandatory,” she said.

“Realistically, everyone in Malaysia already has a digital device to seek for roadside assistance should they require them in an event or emergency.”