KUALA LUMPUR: The Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) has temporarily banned the use of power sockets in express buses until the investigation into the alleged electrocution of a youth on a bus is concluded, says Anthony Loke.
“Currently, all buses are restricted from using these sockets temporarily. We want to determine the cause of the electrocution,” the Transport Minister said during Ministerial Question Time in Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
He said the special task force appointed to investigate the matter has been given 14 days to produce a report on the incident.
Loke said the findings of the report will also be announced and that the Energy Commission has been consulted for advice.
“After the special task force concludes the report, we will be ready to work with the Energy Commission if the ministry is required to make improvements in terms of reviewing SOPs and whether to allow the use of sockets on buses,” he added.
Loke was responding to a supplementary question by Mohd Nazri Abu Hassan (Perikatan-Merbok) about whether the ministry will work with the Energy Commission and Apad to ensure power sockets and lighting are tested for safety prior to approval.
To another supplementary question by Yusuf Abd Wahab (Tanjung Manis-GPS) on the safety of such charging ports on aircraft, Loke said there are standards aircraft manufacturers must adhere to when installing the ports.
Similarly, the Electric Train Service or ETS (operated by KTM Bhd) also has a standard to follow.
Loke said the ministry will review the standard operating procedures or SOPs to include socket safety checks for buses.
On Nov 2, an 18-year-old was found unresponsive in his seat on an express bus at Penang Sentral at around 6pm.
The incident occurred after the victim allegedly suffered electrocution while charging his phone on the bus, with witnesses saying they heard the victim scream before he started frothing at the mouth.
Police investigations following an interview with a witness determined that the victim had boarded the express bus to KL Sentral. A post-mortem conducted at Hospital Seberang Jaya revealed no other injuries or evidence of foul play.
On Nov 3, Loke announced the establishment of a special task force to investigate the incident, with members drawn from Apad, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros).
In Putrajaya, Bernama reported that the company that owned the bus involved in the incident has failed an audit under the Industrial Code of Practice for Occupational Safety and Health for Road Transport Activities conducted by JPJ.
Loke said the company’s operating permit will be suspended following Wednesday’s audit result.
“JPJ will refer the matter to Apad, as the authority for suspending permits lies with Apad.
“Apad will issue a letter of action against them for a specified period, during which they may appeal to the Minister’s Office,” he told reporters after attending the Cahaya Kasih Madani programme and the monthly assembly of the Transport Ministry in Putrajaya yesterday.
