Charging Points In Buses Not Subjected To Safety Inspection - PUSPAKOM

Photo: Bernama. In the wake of the tragic death of an 18-year-old man in Penang who was electrocuted while trying to charge his phone on a bus, Mahmood Razak Bahman, the CEO of Puspakom, has clarified that charging stations in express buses are considered accessories.

Despite being classified under the Road Transport Act 1987, which exempts it from safety inspection, associate professor Law Teik Hua of Universiti Putra Malaysia's road safety research centre believes that charging stations in express buses ought to be made mandatory to be inspected by authorities on a regular basis. “On top of the checks by Puspakom, Sirim QAS International should ensure all electrical and electronic goods fitted by the bus builder in roadworthy express buses are approved by Sirim and ST to ensure public safety,” Law told The Star.

He added that automotive integrated circuits must adhere to the Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) standards in order to manage and lower the risks related to electrical and electronic systems, given the rise in the number of USB ports found in vehicles.
Datuk Mohamad Ashfar Ali, president of the Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association (PMBOA), concurred with Law but asked the government to offer appropriate solutions because, according to him, not all express buses have outlets or charging ports.
In the meantime, Fuziah Salleh, the deputy minister of domestic trade and cost of living, stated that the ministry does not yet have any particular rules pertaining to Sirim-approved electrical and electronic products, such as phone charging cables.
“The domestic trade and cost of living ministry does not have specific regulations regarding the sale of products that use Sirim certification, unless there are complaints about the misuse of fake Sirim approvals. In such cases, an investigation can be conducted under the Trade Description Act 2011,” she said.
Photo: Bernama.

In order to investigate the case, the transport ministry has established a special task force, which is chaired by the deputy secretary-general of land transport and includes the road transport department (JPJ), land public transport agency (APAD), Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), Puspakom, and Sirim.

The bus has been suspended by APAD while JPJ conducts a technical audit of the vehicle to determine the potential causes of electrocution, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke. He also stated that a review of the vehicle safety inspection may be conducted to establish the facts before deciding whether using the USB was the cause.