Proton to reinstall child safety feature in Saga model

SERI KEMBANGAN: National carmaker Proton has agreed to reinstate the top-tether as part of a child protection system in the Proton Saga SV beginning this month after removing the safety feature from the model earlier this year.
Asean NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) secretary-general Khairl Anwar Abu Kassim told theSun that the matter is considered resolved after negotiation with the national car manufacturer recently.
"Proton has promised to reinstall the top-tether starting November after we highlighted to them that the particular model underwent Asean NCAP test in January 2013 and received 58% marks for the child occupant protection (COP) for that particular top-tether fitment," said Khairil, after the launching of Asean NCAP Child Safety Day today.
However, he said, the safety body would monitor the situation in the next couple of months to ensure that the safety feature designed to provide support for child seat installation would be a permanent feature.
"We were also informed that Proton had received calls from 30 customers who already purchased the said model, for Proton to install the top-tether as soon as possible in their cars," he added.
The Saga SV was also awarded a 3-star rating based on its safety specifications for adult occupant protection (AOP) which includes seat-belt reminder (for driver only) and dual airbags.
Proton had cited "miscommunication" or mistakenly omitted the safety fitment from the Saga model and stated that, "it had overlooked in updating Asean NCAP on the omission of the top tether from the current Saga models."
Dubbed as "tether-gate" among the industry circle, the national carmaker was embroiled in a controversy since last month after the regional vehicle safety watchdog was upset with the discovery of a missing safety fitment after awarding a percentage-based marks for COP in the Saga model due to the presence of a top-tether.
Following the discovery, the safety ratings awarded for Proton's three other car models have been also under scrutiny.