The government will launch an integrated Special Compliance Operation to crack down on the entry and sale of electrical products that do not comply with safety standards, including on e-commerce platforms and physical stores.
This operation involves the collaboration of various agencies such as the Ministry of Finance, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, the Energy Commission (ST), the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency and SIRIM.
The operation is necessary because there are electrical products entering Malaysia that do not have SIRIM labels or certification, thus failing to comply with national safety standards. It targets 34 categories of electrical appliances regulated under the Electricity Regulations 1994, including electric kettles, refrigerators, toasters, portable lights, washing machines, electric fans, chargers, cables, kitchen appliances, vacuums, and electric massagers.
A random check found that more than half of the phone charger products offered were not certified by ST and SIRIM. Despite not complying with the standards, they are still sold in physical stores and online.
This is one of the negative impacts of manufacturers no longer offering chargers with every purchase. Although the reason given is to reduce electronic waste, the majority of buyers cannot afford to buy a separate charger because they have already paid a high price for the phone. The cheapest chargers are bought, damaging the device and in more serious situations causing shock incidents.
