The wiring of the bus where the teenager was fatally electrocuted did not meet safety standards, says Loke

Transport Minister Anthony Loke revealed faulty electrical installations that did not meet safety standards as a cause fatal electric shock to an 18-year-old passenger on an express bus in Penang earlier this month.

As reported StarLoke said the special task force formed to investigate the incident found several critical lapses in the vehicle’s wiring and equipment. It was found that the wires from the distribution box to the socket were connected incorrectly, and the electrical equipment used in the bus did not meet the required safety standards.

Additionally, an unauthorized person was responsible for the electrical installation, which is contrary to the guidelines of the Energy Commission (EC). “Although the structural components of the bus were in line with the approved engineering plans and passed Puspakom inspection on May 20, problems with the electrical wiring required immediate attention,” Loke said.

“As a preliminary measure, the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) issued a letter of commitment to the operator, Konsortium Bas Ekspres Semenanjung (M) Sdn Bhd, on November 4. On November 5, the road transport department (JPJ), accompanied by the European Commission and the fire brigade, inspected the bus in Butterworth, Penang,” he added.

Further inspections were carried out on November 6 at the manufacturer’s premises in Beranang, Selangor, by representatives of the European Commission, JPJ, the Malaysian Road Safety Research Institute (MIROS) and the Malaysian Standards and Industrial Research Institute (SIRIM). APAD also identified another bus from the same operator that had similar electrical wiring issues and a temporary suspension of operations was issued pending further investigation.

“In response to the findings, APAD issued an order on November 6 ordering all bus operators to discontinue the use of three-pin electrical sockets in their buses with immediate effect. The suspension will remain in force until the Ministry of Transport issues new rules and guidelines regarding cabling,” Loke said.

“In the future, APAD will require both new and existing bus operators to submit certified inspection reports or certificates for additional electrical installations by accredited bodies recognized by the Malaysian Department of Standards,” he continued.

To prevent similar incidents in the future, the Ministry of Transport will implement stricter enforcement of safety standards for electrical cables and related equipment in public transport vehicles, complemented by improved monitoring and more stringent compliance measures. “The government takes passenger safety very seriously and will ensure stringent measures are put in place to prevent such incidents from recurring,” Loke said.

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