PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA - A NEW rule requiring rear seat passengers to belt up in Malaysia kicked in on Sunday, but many people still claimed ignorance of it.

Ms Previtha Rajah, 33, said she was unaware of the start of the three-month advocacy period for the use of rear seat belts.

However, the mother of three needn't worry about the ruling - for she has always got her rear seat passengers to buckle up anyway.

'For safety purposes, I have never failed to get my children, maid and other passengers to buckle up,' she said.

Mr Roslan Hashim, 34, a technician, said he had heard of the plan but did not know it had already been implemented.

'Betulkah, saya pun tak tahu (Is it, I did not know),' he said, suggesting that there should be more publicity on the new ruling in the media to raise public awareness.