PUTRAJAYA: Cable thefts involving railways should be investigated as public safety and national security offences, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
He said such crimes should not be seen as normal thefts.
Loke said he had urged the police to take firm action in such cases.
ALSO READ: ECRL setback linked to site theft
“This issue concerns both public safety and national security.
“There must be stricter enforcement against the offenders, but I leave it to the discretion of the police,” he told reporters here on Monday (June 23).
The Star previously reported that the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project has also been affected by cable theft.
It was reported that contractors were facing significant challenges, with more than 1,200m of signalling cables stolen along the rail alignment, along with the removal of 81 outdoor transformer units.
ALSO READ: Cable theft causes major delays of KTMB train services
Loke said cable theft not only affected the ECRL but also the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) rail network.
“KTM has faced significant delays in its projects because of cable theft.
“I have contacted the Home Ministry to address this issue,” he added.
