KUALA LUMPUR: The disruption to the Putrajaya mass transit train (MRT) line is now suspected to have been caused by the theft of communication cables and signalling systems.
According to Bernama, president and group chief executive officer of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd Amir Hamdan said that technical teams, alongside the original equipment manufacturers, are currently carrying out repair and recovery works to stabilise the system.
“For now, the system is still operating inconsistently and has not been fully restored.
“Operations are being conducted manually with 18 trains in service, while 40 free shuttle buses have been provided to connect stations along the Putrajaya Line,” he said after officiating the relaunch of Rapid Rail services at the Taman Perindustrian Puchong LRT station on Saturday (Oct 25).
Amir said that updates on the recovery works would be shared with the public so that commuters can plan their journeys accordingly.
It was previously reported that the line was facing disruptions due to ongoing signal system upgrade works.
However, in an update, Amir said cable theft was detected in the Taman Desa area and is currently being investigated in cooperation with the police.
He added that within 2025 alone, nearly 50 cases of cable theft were recorded – an increase of about 100% compared to last year.
“It’s a worrying development as it involves safety and operational stability risks. Cable thefts not only disrupt rail systems but also affect the services of other operators facing similar incidents,” he said.
Amir added that the matter has been brought to the government’s attention and urged the government to consider tightening laws related to the theft of public infrastructure assets.
Meanwhile, ahead of the 47th Asean Summit on Sunday (Oct 26), he advised commuters to plan their journeys better and use alternative routes as announced by Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd (Rapid Rail).
Passengers are also advised to refer to Rapid KL’s social media pages for more information and to stay up to date on any developments.
