KUALA LUMPUR: The use of 240-volt (V) sockets for charging in public vehicles poses greater dangers than portable USB chargers, according to a professor from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

Professor Dr Sawal Hamid Md Ali from the Electrical, Electronics, and Systems Engineering Department of the Engineering and Built Environment Faculty said that sockets with that voltage were akin to those found in homes and can pose a risk of electric shock in the event of a short circuit.

In contrast, he said, USB chargers, which operate at only 5V, were much safer due to their lower voltage.

His comments follow the tragic case of a teenager who died from electric shock while charging his mobile phone via a socket on a bus last Friday. 

The incident took place at the Penang Sentral bus terminal in Butterworth, Penang, where 18-year-old Mohamad Nur Asymawi Jasmadi was preparing to travel to Kuala Lumpur.

Sawal Hamid said that the teenager's death could be attributed to several factors, including improper installation of charging points using 240V sockets that did not meet the standards set by the Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (Sirim). 

He also said that the charger could have been faulty, failing to provide adequate isolation between the high voltage 240V input and the low voltage 5V output, which could allow high voltage to reach the user.

He added that charging points in public transport were safe if they adhered to specific standards or were provided by vehicle manufacturers. 

"I strongly encourage the use of charging points provided by vehicle manufacturers that utilize USB, as they are safer," said Sawal Hamid.

In response to the incident, the Transport Ministry has established a special task force and suspended operations of the involved bus immediately. 

Sawal Hamid reiterated that compliance with safety standards was crucial for charging points in public transportation to ensure user safety.