26/AUG/2016
For about ten years now there has been an average of one death every two years in Malaysia due to electrocution from water heaters, the most recent one in July this year 2016.
1. December 2008 – Penang
2. June 2011 – Selangor
3. October 2011 – Batu Kawa, Sarawak – 48 yr old man
4. December 2011 – Penang
5. September 2013- Kuala Lumpur ; Japanese couple
6. August 2014 – Johor; 27-year-old pharmacist
7. July 2016 - Negeri Sembilan; Mass Communication University Student
Despite the number of deaths, the Malaysian regulator has not been forthcoming with the outcome of investigation into the incidents. It makes our work as civil society organisation very difficult to engage the general public on safe use of water heaters. The investigations (if any) are not transparent and we have no way of knowing who or what was responsible for the loss of lives – both citizens and foreigners alike.
Often the scapegoat for the businesses and regulators alike is that consumers favor cheap brands and installations. But several deaths are associated with well-known brands of electric water heaters.
Energy Commission may have advertised on papers and websites about safety measures for water heaters. But this kind of response to a potentially fatal problem with electric water heaters shows that there is no urgency in getting to the root of the problem and implement long term solutions.
Counterfeits and Fakes In Electrical Appliances
Counterfeits and fakes do not affect high end fashions wear and apparels. Counterfeit and fake parts find their way into electrical installations and home appliances. Consumers are not qualified to smell out these fake parts in their home appliances. Developed country regulators are facing mammoth tasks in circumventing many different forms of trade in counterfeits and fakes. In an effort to become a developed nation by 2020 calls for regulators in Malaysia to be up to task in tackling new ways in committing crime and putting consumers in danger.
Transfer of Knowledge
We are sure the Malaysian regulators are members of larger forums such as APEC, ASEAN and members of international standards development bodies like the International Electro-technical Commission or IEC. We hope actual transfer of knowledge in addressing safety risks with the use of household appliances actually takes place. We hope this transfer of knowledge manifests as zero deaths associated with the use of electric water heaters and other home appliances. Standards Users network of experts in the US, Canada and Korea mention that death due to electrocution from electric water heaters are very rare.
Publicly available database of recalled products such as the EU RAPEX and US's saferproduct.gov does not show many safety incidents from the Malaysian type of electrical water heaters. There have been complaints of potential electrical shock though but NO fatality.
Step Up Enforcement
Energy Commission and Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism need to step up their enforcement activities and be transparent in outcome of the fatal or near death incidents related to the use any consumer products.
Prof Datuk Dr. Marimuthu Nadason
President
Malaysian Association of Standards Users