GEORGE TOWN, October 17 2026, The government is planning to amend existing laws to impose heavier penalties on cable theft following repeated incidents that have disrupted railway services and raised public safety concerns.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said discussions were underway with the Home Ministry to draft the proposed amendments, including provisions to increase prison terms and fines.
However, he said the details of the proposed penalties had yet to be finalised.
Speaking to reporters after launching Rapid Penang’s electric buses today, Loke said cable theft remained a serious challenge for railway operators nationwide, including Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB).
He added that the problem extended beyond existing rail services, noting that the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which has yet to begin operations, had also experienced cable theft incidents.
Loke stressed that tougher penalties were necessary to deter offenders, as cable theft could compromise public safety and disrupt essential transport services.
Meanwhile, he urged rail operators to strengthen preventive measures while the proposed legal amendments were being developed. These measures include installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at strategic locations and increasing the deployment of auxiliary police to prevent unauthorised access to restricted areas.
The call follows an incident on the MRT Kajang Line yesterday involving railway track encroachment and an attempted cable theft, which disrupted services between Phileo Damansara and Pusat Bandar Damansara stations.
Rapid KL confirmed that the incident had caused delays along the affected stretch.
-BERNAMA
