Consumers extra-cautious after reported incidents

PETALING JAYA: Charging phones from a distance, thinking twice about using free power banks and tossing out old mobile phone chargers.

These are just some examples of what handphone users have done ever since they read about news of recent mishaps involving mobile phones.

Hotel manager Mohd Herman Anwar said while there were instances he needed to charge his phone overnight, he would not leave it next to his bed anymore.

“I put it somewhere far away. But these days, I try to charge my phone before I go to sleep.

“I shut off the power before I sleep and continue charging it when I wake up,” said the 35-yearold from Kuala Lumpur.

Mohd Herman admitted that he has three chargers – two of which are uncertified and one from the original handphone package.

“Of course with the stories we have heard, now I feel afraid of using the uncertified ones.

“I bought them because they were cheap,” he said, adding the plug of one of the uncertified chargers had turned black after a few months and he has since decided to stop using it.

Mohd Herman urged the authorities to come up with guidelines for power banks to help consumers decide which are safe to buy.

“I feel a bit scared using the power banks I have now,” he added.

He said the maximum penalty against those who sold uncertified products was not enough.

“The punishment should be increased because their products could potentially endanger lives,” he said.

A company executive known only as Tan, 28, said she was given a free power bank by a trader after buying a new smartphone.

“I was happy to be given a free power bank. But now I do feel a bit wary about using it,” she said.

Tan added she had another power bank which was white but turned greyish after being used for several months.

“I didn’t feel safe using it. The grey edges looked a bit burnt for some reason,” she said.

A tuition teacher, who wishes to be known only as Emma, said after reading the news about the incidents, she threw away her old handphone chargers and bought a new one.

“I don’t want to learn my lesson the hard way,” said the 33-year-old.

Accountant John Siew, 31, hoped the authorities would regulate power banks, especially after the recent case of a power bank exploding in a man’s car in Penang.

“It is worrying to learn about such cases. As consumers, we do not know what is inside these power banks and we need an assurance that they are safe,” he said.