KOTA KINABALU: Sabah recorded approximately RM17.3mil in telecommunications losses due to damage and vandalism between 2025 and June 2026, said State Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Datuk James Ratib (pic).
Speaking at a workshop on combatting telecommunications infrastructure vandalism on Thursday (Aug 20), James revealed that the losses stem from 1191 disruption incidents spanning 257 sites across 23 districts.
"It impacts the public when services are disrupted," James stated.
James called for efforts to break the supply-and-demand chain driving copper and battery thefts.
He also reminded the public that under Section 235 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, individuals found guilty of damaging or tampering with network facilities face fines up to RM500,000, up to five years' imprisonment, or both.
