MalayMail-Mar 5
When trains on the MRT Putrajaya Line ground to a halt near Damansara Damai this week due to suspected cable theft, many commuters asked the same question: how can one stolen cable stop an entire rail line? The short answer is modern rail systems are designed to stop first for safety reasons. But Malaysia is not alone in facing this costly and frustrating problem — the disruption in Klang Valley is part of a much wider global pattern. Cable theft is a long-standing global issue affecting developed and developing countries alike. Prasarana Malaysia Berhad has reported losses of RM20.6 million due to cable theft since 2023. The company also said such incidents surged by 68 per cent in 2025 alone. Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said regulators and police are now working with scrap yards and businesses to prevent stolen copper from entering the resale market.
Loke has called for harsher penalties, arguing that current fines — sometimes as low as RM1,000 or RM2,000 — do not reflect the seriousness of the crime.
He described cable theft as a sabotage against public order. While gold prices will remain more lucrative than copper, the latter is everywhere and has easy access.
It runs through power lines, railway signals, telecom towers, lamps, televisions and even kitchen appliances.
But global demand has surged sharply in recent years due to rising sectors. Many offenders are believed to be drug addicts seeking fast money, though organized syndicates are also involved. Authorities are now pushing for stricter penalties and closer monitoring of scrap metal markets to curb theft, underlining that tackling cable theft is not just about crime prevention, but also protecting national security and ensuring the reliability of essential services. Read more at:
