Public cooperation is being sought to catch those responsible for vandalising and stealing parts of heritage-style decorative lamp posts on a bridge along Jalan Leong Boon Swee in Ipoh, Perak.
State housing and local government committee chairman Sandrea Ng urged residents and business owners nearby to step forward if they have evidence that could assist ongoing investigations.
“If there are shops or houses nearby with closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage that may have captured evidence related to the incident, we urge them to share the information with the authorities.
“So far, we have seen the public taking the initiative to report various issues, including cases of theft to the authorities.
“Such cooperation helps us obtain more information and determine the necessary action,” she told reporters after a fishing event with the media.
The decorative lamp posts’ condition had gone viral on social media, showing several fixtures vandalised, with only their lower bases remaining.
Residents expressed concern over the damage, linking it to previous cable theft incidents in the area.
While formal complaints have yet to reach her office, Ng believes Ipoh City Council will investigate the matter promptly once reported.
She added that the city council routinely conducted site visits upon receiving complaints, to assess damage before taking action.
Highlighting the severity of the offence, Ng warned that damaging public infrastructure was a serious crime, particularly when involving heritage-related items.
“I urge everyone to comply with the law and not take such matters lightly, as the authorities will take action to ensure that those responsible face the appropriate punishment,” she said.
Ng said discussions were ongoing between state agencies, Telekom Malaysia and the police to curb public property theft.
“The relevant parties have held discussions on strengthening monitoring and enforcement to prevent such incidents.
“If we see new trends or targets involving theft, the relevant authorities will look into preventive measures as well as the repairs or replacements needed,” she said.
