The Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) has imposed a temporary ban on the use of electric sockets in all express buses in the country. This mandate comes as the agency is conducting an investigation into the recent death of a teenager who was allegedly electrocuted while charging his smartphone on a bus.
According to transport minister Anthony Loke, the temporary ban is to enable a thorough investigation to determine the actual cause of the incident. His ministry is also seeking advice from the Energy Commission (ST) to see if improvements are needed in the standard operating procedures for the wiring or use of electric sockets in express buses.
Loke explained that currently, sockets inspections are not a part of Puspakom’s inspection process, but a special task force led by the transport ministry has been appointed to investigate the incident. The ministry has already issued a show cause letter to the express bus operator and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) has conducted an investigation on the bus body in Butterworth, Penang.
Additionally, the ST, JPJ, APAD, MIROS, and SIRIM have carried out a preliminary inspection of the bus manufacturer involved. As for the safety of sockets in planes and trains, the minister explained that they have their own standards, meaning that passengers do not have to worry about using them.
(Source: Bernama)
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