CABLE theft has evolved into a highly organised and lucrative criminal activity in Malaysia, with rail authorities warning that weak legal deterrence and evidentiary challenges are allowing offenders to operate repeatedly, even after arrests.
Industry officials say the crime, while risky, continues to attract repeat offenders due to the imbalance between potential financial gains and relatively lenient penalties under existing laws. The difficulty of proving intent to sabotage critical infrastructure has also meant many suspects are charged with lesser offences instead of more serious charges.
A senior security official from Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, Idzqandar Abu Bakar, said law enforcement agencies such as the police have been effective in curbing incidents, but legal constraints limit stronger action.
“Law enforcement like the Royal Malaysia Police has been very helpful in curbing cable theft but their hands have been tied for a long time.
“Because the burden of proof to show they performed sabotage is very high, and the evidence requires photographic proof of the perpetrators with their tools cutting the cables.”
He said thieves typically operate with speed and precision, often breaching access points within 10 to 15 minutes, leaving little opportunity for enforcement teams to catch them in the act.
“From a legislative point of view, it is easier to charge them under criminal trespass or possession of stolen goods instead and that is not a sufficient deterrent,” Mlay Mail reported him saying in an interview.
Authorities commonly investigate such cases under theft provisions of the Penal Code, but suspects are frequently prosecuted under criminal trespass instead. In some instances, they are charged under minor offences legislation, which carries significantly lower penalties.
The disparity in sentencing, he noted, weakens deterrence.
Theft offences can carry prison terms of up to seven years, whereas criminal trespass may result in a maximum of six months’ imprisonment, fines, or both.
Possession of stolen goods under minor offences provisions may attract a fine of up to RM1,000 or a short jail term.
“So, if you consider the scrap value (of the stolen cables) to be RM50,000 to RM60,000 per night and every time you get caught you only receive a fine up to RM3,000 or several months in jail, that is not enough of a deterrent.
“It’s a worthwhile effort for them,” he said, adding that each incident costs Prasarana approximately RM90,000 in replacement and repair expenses.
The issue has been exacerbated by the emergence of organised syndicates. One of the most frequently targeted routes, the 48km MRT Kajang Line, recorded 25 cable theft incidents in 2025 alone.
Idzqandar described cases involving coordinated groups with defined roles, including individuals collecting cables thrown from elevated tracks by accomplices.
He also recounted an incident where a suspect evaded capture by jumping from an elevated rail structure, later reappearing in a separate case as part of the same operation.
He said there have been no reported fatalities or electrocution incidents, suggesting that offenders take precautions despite the inherent dangers.
Authorities believe some syndicates may involve recurring offenders, sometimes operating as family-linked groups, while foreign nationals arrested in such cases are often believed to be hired participants rather than masterminds.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke has indicated that proposals have been submitted to strengthen existing laws, including introducing harsher penalties for cable theft, which he described as a threat to public safety and transport reliability rather than a conventional property crime.
Idzqandar said enforcement agencies are also considering pursuing charges based on intent to sabotage where possible, rather than waiting for offenders to be caught in the act.
“That is why one of the things we are proposing is to prosecute people with the intent to sabotage if they are found trespassing with the right tools rather than waiting until they are caught red-handed,” he said.
He added that while inside involvement cannot be ruled out, no conclusive evidence has been established to date.
The continued rise in cable theft cases, coupled with recurring offenders and organised operations, has prompted calls for legislative reform to better align penalties with the scale of risk, economic loss and disruption caused to public infrastructure. - March 24, 2026
