Politics · Malaysia Bureau
Minister pushes for stricter penalties to combat railway cable theft
A cabinet minister has called for tougher sanctions against cable thieves plaguing the country's rail network. The push comes as authorities work to address recurring service disruptions caused by copper and infrastructure theft.
LSN Malaysia ·
The push for enhanced penalties reflects growing frustration over persistent cable theft incidents that have contributed to train delays across the network. The ministry responsible for rail operations has identified theft as a significant operational challenge affecting service reliability and passenger schedules.
Officials are exploring legislative measures that would impose more severe consequences for those caught stealing railway cables and related infrastructure. The proposed penalties are intended to serve as a stronger deterrent against such criminal activity.
To advance the initiative, the ministry has initiated coordination with the Home Ministry to ensure a comprehensive approach to the problem. The inter-agency collaboration is designed to align enforcement efforts and establish consistent protocols for addressing cable theft incidents.
Railway operators have pointed to cable theft as a recurring issue that disrupts services and requires costly repairs. By strengthening legal deterrents, authorities hope to reduce the frequency of such incidents and improve overall service punctuality.