The Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli announced that there will be a new set of safety guidelines for buses starting from January next year. This statement was given yesterday, and the safety guidelines will focus on internal wiring works, where an extra certification is needed to be acquired known as the Internal Work Sheet, or IWS(e).
According to Aedy, the new set of guidelines is being enforced following the death of Mohamad Nur Asymawi Jasmadi, 18, due to electrocution. This occurred in November last year at Penang Sentral while he was charging a phone on an express bus.
Following an investigation by a special task force comprising JPJ, PUSPAKOM and the Energy Commission, it was determined that there was negligence in the installation of alternating current (AC) wiring, which had been carried out without supervision from a qualified technician. Hence, the IWS(e) has been introduced to prevent such incidents from recurring and to ensure the safety of passengers using public transportation.
The guidelines comprise three components, which include a general inspection of the quality of installation, safety checks, and functional tests. These checks will be conducted only by JPJ-registered technicians with a PW2 certificate (Single Phase Wireman and Testing Endorsement) from the Energy Commission.
The IWS(e) is also enforced to ensure that no additional wiring work is carried out beyond the original factory-fitted wiring. Starting next year, the requirement to furnish the IWS(e) document will become part of the mandatory criteria when buses, including locally assembled units, are sent for scheduled inspections at PUSPAKOM.
Furthermore, Aedy announced that owners of vehicles registered before 1 January 2026 will be given a grace period of one year (until 1 January 2027) to obtain the worksheet. “JPJ wishes to remind vehicle owners that any form of additional wiring work or modifications must be conducted under the supervision of competent persons such as electrical engineers registered with JPJ,” he said.
“This is a significant technical enhancement for the country’s automotive sector, and all coachbuilders are advised to comply immediately, without even needing to wait for the deadline,” Aedy added. “We urge vehicle owners and the industry to extend their cooperation for an overall safer environment for all.”
(Source: JPJ Facebook Page / Star)
