Stricter policies needed, experts call for enhanced bus safety standards

SHAH ALAM - The Transport Ministry should implement stricter policies for bus companies to enhance their services.

Universiti Sains Malaysia School of Civil Engineering Associate Professor Dr Nur Sabahiah Abdul said it was time for the ministry to take action following serious incidents that have occurred in the country.

She said in fact, the proposal for a star recognition system to rate bus companies based on service quality has been under discussion for a while, involving a number of researchers.

"The time has come for the ministry to have a stricter policy on bus companies to improve their services.

“In fact the proposal to impose star recognition systems to bus companies based on their service has been highlighted for a long time. Many researchers are also involved," she said when contacted.

She added that the recognition system should also include evaluations of good road safety practices among bus companies.

However, she said she observed that no substantial policy has been established.

She further emphasised that a star recognition system would encourage more people to choose buses or public transport.

When incidents like this occur, she said it creates reluctance among the public to use buses, fostering a negative perception of public transport.

"It seems to have become a habit in Malaysia to react only after the damage has been done, akin to the English idiom 'locking the stable door after the horse has been stolen,'" she said.

She was commenting on the tragic incident that occurred when a teenage passenger of an express bus died after being electrocuted while charging his mobile phone using a power in the bus, last week.

She said such accidents should be preventable and stressed that public transport companies must provide safe and comfortable facilities for passengers.

"It is the duty of any company involved in public transport to carry out periodic maintenance of all the facilities that are promised to the passengers who pay for the service," she added.

She said all companies providing public transport services have a social responsibility to ensure their services were safe, thereby preventing incidents that necessitate external audits or inspections.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Public Transport Users Association (4PAM) President Ajit Joh has voiced strong demands for stricter and more frequent safety inspections of public vehicles, emphasising the need for more stringent requirements.

Ajit also noted that, to his knowledge, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has established standards for electrical items, including USB charging ports in private vehicles.

"In terms of public vehicles, I think it’s important to have proper signboards and notices displayed, as the presence of electrical charges can make having water on board quite hazardous," he told Sinar Daily.

Ajit also expressed disappointment that the government has yet to establish a Public Transport Users Commission, despite ongoing requests for its establishment.

He said while the Transport Ministry has previously responded by forming committees, these groups often only make recommendations without leading to substantial changes.

With human lives now at stake, Ajit expressed deep disappointment that the government continued to rely on this approach rather than implementing effective solutions.

"When will the real culprits be charged? What will the action be taken? And this is not only an electrocution case. We have had express bus accidents where more lives have been taken," he added.

Ajit also extended condolences to the family of the deceased and expressed hope that similar tragedies will be prevented in the future.

He also criticised the creation of committees that lacked a strong regulatory body or a commission reporting directly to Parliament.

He argued that without accountability, serious incidents will persist, as directors of public transport companies do not fully grasp the seriousness of their responsibilities towards ensuring passengers' safety.

He urged that this critical issue must be addressed immediately.

On Nov 1, it was reported that 18-year-old teenager Mohamad Nur Asymawi Jasmadi, tragically died from electrocution while charging his mobile phone on an express bus at Penang Sentral.

Preliminary investigations revealed burn marks on Asymawi's fingers, suggesting he was electrocuted via the bus' charging socket, with the charging cable found melted and his phone overheating at the time.

Police confirmed there were no signs of foul play and the post-mortem indicated electrocution as the cause of death.

In response to the incident, the Transport Ministry suspended the bus' operations on Nov 3 and set up a special task force to investigate the matter.

Its minister Anthony Loke emphasised the importance of a thorough inquiry to prevent similar tragedies and enhance passenger safety, with the task force including members from various transport safety agencies.