Overhead danger: Wires of the overhead line equipment were cut and left dangling (circled), posing risk of electrocution and hampering progress towards testing and commissioning next June.
PETALING JAYA: The contractor of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is now facing the real possibility that theft of cables along the alignment in Pahang may cause it to miss its project completion timeline.
China Communications Construction ECRL Sdn Bhd (CCC-ECRL) said it is concerned over the recent spate of thefts, especially the overhead contact wires laid out along the track alignment from Temerloh to Bentong.
“This has caused significant damage to critical railway infrastructure and may delay the delivery of this key national project,” it said in a statement yesterday.
“In the short span of two weeks, a total of 1,080m of contact wire between Temerloh and Lanchang, and 599m between Lanchang and Bentong, have been stolen.
“These thefts not only increase repair and replacement costs but threaten to delay overall ECRL project progress, as custom-made replacement parts take months to procure.
“This also affects the ECRL’s role in delivering long-term social and economic benefits to the east coast region and the nation.”
The contractor also confirmed that reports have been lodged with the Lanchang police station.
CCC-ECRL is also appealing to the public to help stem the tide, given that it is impossible to watch over the entire 665km-long alignment that stretches from Kelantan to Selangor, while passing through Terengganu and Pahang (across 233km).
“The public is urged not to purchase any electrical wires or components belonging to the ECRL, and to immediately report any suspicious activity to the police or the nearest CCC-ECRL section office,” it added.
In June, CCC-ECRL had complained about how thieves have continuously targeted high-value railway components such as cables and transformers.
ECRL officials said if theft continues unabated, then the project may risk missing its December 2026 completion deadline.
Since the start of the Communications, Information and Signalling systems installation at the ECRL KotaSAS Station in Pahang this March, thieves have struck at no less than seven locations – Paya Besar, Cherating and Kuantan Port City (Pahang); Chukai, Dungun and Kemasik (Terengganu), and Pasir Puteh in Kelantan.
