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SCMP’s Asia desk

Malaysia has set up a special task force to investigate the death of a teenager who was electrocuted while charging his mobile phone using a power outlet on a bus in Penang state.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the panel will include officials from the road transport department, the land public transport agency, and the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research. Their goal: to uncover the causes of the incident and prevent future tragedies.
“The ministry of transport treats this electric shock incident, which tragically resulted in the death of a teenager while he was charging his phone on the express bus, with utmost seriousness,” Loke said in a statement on Sunday.
He added the vehicle’s operations had been suspended, a decision that Abu Hassan Awang, president of the Peninsular Malaysia Malay Express Bus Operators Association, criticised.
Awang argued that the government should have waited for the investigation’s conclusion before penalising the bus company.
Mohamad Nur Asymawi Jasmadi, 18, died on Friday last week while travelling on the bus to Kuala Lumpur.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing screams and found the victim frothing at the mouth, local media reported.

Preliminary police investigations revealed burn marks on Asymawi’s fingers, indicating electrocution. The end of his charging cable had melted, and his phone was hot to the touch.
Salmiah Humzah, Asymawi’s grandmother, expressed her grief with remarkable composure. “It’s all right … I accept this as Allah’s will,” she said, according to the Malay-language daily Sinar Harian newspaper.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research has called on bus operators to conduct regular inspections of electrical systems, emphasising the importance of hiring professionals rather than relying solely on maintenance staff.
“If done properly, checks would confirm the electrical stability of these systems and prevent surges that could harm users or damage equipment,” said Wong Shaw Voon, the agency’s chairman.
Public reaction has been swift on social media, with many Malaysians expressing sorrow over Asymawi’s death and urging Minister Loke to mandate regular safety inspections, reporting seeing unroadworthy buses being allowed to operate in the country.
“This incident is truly tragic, and my heartfelt condolences go out to the family. It is concerning that action is often taken only after unfortunate events occur,” wrote one Facebook user.


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Eyewitnesses reported horrifying scenes as 18-year-old Mohamad Nur Asymawi Jasmadi screamed for help


Eyewitnesses reported horrifying scenes as 18-year-old Mohamad Nur Asymawi Jasmadi screamed for help.
