Time to impose severe penalties for cable theft

Illicit trade: Cable theft along the ECRL alignment. – File pic

ACROSS Malaysia, a seemingly petty crime has mutated into a full-blown national security and economic crisis. The theft of copper and electrical cables is no longer just a nuisance; it is a coordinated sabotage of our most critical infrastructure.

And right now, the thieves are winning!

The statistics are sobering. Prasarana Malaysia Berhad reported staggering losses of RM20.6mil due to cable theft since 2023, with incidents surging by 68% in 2025 alone.

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) operations suffered a cumulative 1,300 hours of delays last year due to cable theft targeting signalling and communication lines.

Meanwhile, the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project has already bled RM2.9mil to thieves in Terengganu and Pahang.

Even our resilience against climate change is being compromised. In Selangor, stolen cables from flood mitigation pump houses are leaving vulnerable communities at the mercy of the rainy season.

As state officials have rightly pointed out, if there is no electricity, the pumps will not work.

The financial losses pale in comparison to the potential loss of life and property when these vital systems fail.

But why is this happening now, and so frequently? The answer lies in the booming global demand for copper, driven by the explosive growth of data centres, electric vehicles (EVs) and the transition to green energy.

Syndicates know that 200m of stolen railway cable can easily fetch between RM5,000 and RM10,000 on the black market.

To these highly organised syndicates, the risks are heavily outweighed by the rewards. This is partly because our current laws are treating a critical infrastructural attack as a minor offence.

Since proving the intent of “sabotage” carries a high burden of proof, perpetrators caught red-handed are frequently charged under Section 447 of the Penal Code for criminal trespass or even the Minor Offences Act for possession of stolen goods.

A syndicate that makes RM50,000 in a single night of looting faces a maximum fine of just RM3,000 or a few months in jail. For these career criminals, a court fine isn’t a deterrent; it is simply a minor business expense.

But this illicit trade exacts a grim human toll. In March 2026, three men were tragically found dead in Ipoh, electrocuted while attempting to strip cables from a Tenaga Nasional Berhad pylon.

Desperation and the lure of quick cash are driving individuals to risk losing their lives, often acting as disposable hands for the shadow syndicates pulling the strings.

It is time to stop punishing these criminals with just a slap on the wrist. Transport Minister Anthony Loke has rightfully pointed out that cable theft cannot be treated as ordinary theft; it is an act of sabotage that endangers public safety and disrupts public order.

We urgently need legislative reform to introduce mandatory and severe penalties that reflect the gravity of the crime.

Equally important is cutting off the head of the snake: the unregulated scrap metal buyers who act as willing fences for stolen national assets. Without a market to sell to, the theft will stop.

Law enforcement must aggressively monitor and audit the scrap metal industry, holding buyers criminally liable for receiving materials stolen from public infrastructure.

Malaysia is racing towards a digital and green future, investing billions into modern transit systems, AI infrastructure and renewable energy. We cannot allow that progress to be literally dismantled and sold for scrap in the dead of night.

It is time to treat cable theft for what it truly is – a direct attack on the nation’s progress – and punish it accordingly.

TS DR MUHAMMAD AMMIRRUL ATIQI MOHD ZAINURI

Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia