KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia: Sabahans are not taking kindly to the rear seat belt ruling, with many calling the law "hastily implemented" and wanting it to be relaxed, or even scrapped.

Consumer Association for Sabah and Labuan president Datuk Patrick Sindu said the new law would invite corruption.

"The authorities did not do their homework to find out how many deaths were actually caused by not wearing the rear seat belt.

"In other countries, such laws are not enforced as casualties were not caused by not wearing the seat belt, but by the driver's behaviour behind the wheel."

Since Jan 1, 110 people in the state have been booked for not wearing seat belts by the Road Transport Department. --The New Straits Times/Asia News Network