THE government will review existing laws to impose harsher penalties for cable theft, particularly for crimes affecting strategic projects such as the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL).
The consensus was reached during a recent meeting between Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, and key railway operators, including KTMB and ECRL.
“We agreed that there is an urgent need to amend the relevant laws to create what is called a ‘deterrence’ against such thefts,” said Saifuddin Nasution at a press conference after an engagement session with Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) personnel as reported by Bernama.
Also present were Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Awang Alik Jeman and AKPS director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.
He called on all rail operators to ramp up investment in security technology, such as installing CCTV and smart monitoring systems, on par with developed countries.
"Look at countries like China and Germany, their rail operators invest heavily in security tech. This is an approach that must be jointly adopted by enforcement agencies and operators here," he said.
He noted that the two main types of cable most frequently targeted are signal and power supply cables, which are often sold to scrap metal dealers due to their high resale value.
"To date, the highest number of thefts has been recorded in Pahang, where ECRL installation is most active. We expect such incidents to shift to Terengganu and Kelantan as construction moves into those states," he added.
It had been widely reported that cable theft currently carries only a RM1,000 fine, a penalty deemed disproportionate to the financial losses suffered by rail operators and the government.
Separately, Transport Minister Anthony Loke was reported to have directed the Royal Malaysia Police to take stern action against cable theft at ECRL sites, as such crimes disrupt the project's timeline and delivery. – February 4, 2026
