Minister Loke Siew Fook said doing this to “trick” the seat belt sensors or alarm was dangerous for motorists.

He said the transport ministry has no authority to seize or ban the accessory despite concerns over the rising number of vehicle owners using the device instead of wearing seat belts.

“So we are discussing with the domestic trade and cost of living ministry to ban the item from being accessible in the market,” he said at a press conference after attending an event here.

Last week, the Negeri Sembilan road transport department expressed concerns over a rising trend of vehicle owners using these dummy buckles.

About 30% of 195 offenders caught for not using their seat belts during a Chinese New Year traffic operation in Negeri Sembilan were found to have used dummy buckles to avoid triggering the seat belt alarm.

Separately, Loke said the ministry will provide bus companies with specifications for the installation of USB ports on buses by May. This comes after a man died while charging his phone on an express bus in November last year.

Following the incident, the ministry had suspended the use of three-pin electrical sockets and USB ports in buses.

“The Energy Commission and Standard and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (Sirim) are developing the installation standard.

“We have yet to lift the suspension pending the release of the standard,” he said.