KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry is drafting amendments to impose heavier penalties for cable theft that disrupts public transport services, including the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL).
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the proposed amendments would have to go through Parliament, adding that details could not be disclosed until the drafting process was completed.
"The proposal to increase penalties must go through Parliament. We are currently drafting those amendments.
"We will address that (heavier penalties). We have to finalise it first, so it is not appropriate for me to announce any details at this time," he said after opening Transport Expo Asia 2026.
Loke said rail operators must also strengthen preventive measures to tackle cable theft, which has affected infrastructure projects and transport services.
"At the same time, the ECRL and other operators will certainly take their own preventive measures. ECRL itself has taken this into account during the construction of its tracks.
"Regardless of any punitive action, if preventive measures are not properly implemented, no punishment will be able to resolve this issue comprehensively," he said.
Yesterday, police arrested 17 men suspected of belonging to four gangs linked to robberies and cable theft involving the ECRL project and Telekom Malaysia in Temerloh.
Temerloh district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Nasyim Bahron identified the gangs as Geng Ravi, Geng Kepala, Geng Dany and Geng Mista.
The arrests were made in several operations from Oct 12 by the Temerloh district police Criminal Investigation Division and the Mentakab police crime prevention task force.
Loke said Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) and other rail operators were exploring technological solutions to curb cable theft, including closed-circuit television (CCTV) monitoring.
"MRL, alongside other operators, is looking at alternative methods, including the use of technology to prevent theft, whether through closed-circuit television (CCTV) monitoring or other technological solutions," he said.
He added that cable theft affected public transport operators worldwide, not just in Malaysia.
"We hope such problem statements receive a response from companies that can innovate and solve these issues.
"We hope companies, especially university start-ups and other institutions, can attempt to carry out R&D to address this problem," he said.
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