Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said the child was thrown out of the vehicle and trapped underneath another vehicle before being pronounced dead at the scene.

“I am not blaming the victims or the parents, but this should serve as a reminder to everyone,” he said at a press conference here today.

“Many people complained when the transport ministry mandated the use of child seats. But when incidents like this happen, it shows how important child seats are.

“The baby might not have been thrown out of the vehicle.”

Eight people were injured in the crash involving a lorry, two SUVs and a car.

The lorry driver said he jumped out of the vehicle as its brakes had failed.

Kajang police chief Naazron Abdul Yusof said the 42-year-old driver has been remanded for two days to assist in the investigation.

Naazron said the suspect has a record for three cases related to drug and criminal offences, and four summonses for traffic violations in 2013 and 2016.

He said the man’s urine test came back negative for drugs and alcohol, and the case is being investigated for reckless or dangerous driving causing death.