Malaysia To Amend Laws To Impose Harsh Penalties On Cable Thieves Threatening Rail Safety

GEORGE TOWN, Oct 17 – The Malaysian government is currently drafting legal amendments to impose significantly heavier penalties, including longer jail terms and higher fines, on individuals involved in cable theft following recurring incidents that have disrupted public rail services and threatened passenger safety.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced the initiative during a media conference following the official launch of Rapid Penang’s new electric bus fleet in George Town on Saturday, October 17, 2026.

Loke confirmed that the Ministry of Transport is collaborating closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs to formulate policy frameworks and refine the statutory language needed to tighten existing penal provisions.

“It is indeed in the planning stage. We are in the process of drafting the amendments and working with the Home Ministry to tighten the penalties,” Loke stated, emphasizing that specific jail terms and fine amounts are currently being deliberated at the inter-ministerial policy level.

Impact Across Rail Systems, Yesterday’s MRT Disruption, and Heightened Security

The minister highlighted that cable theft is a widespread threat impacting major transit networks across the nation:

• Impact Across Rail Systems: Cable theft severely impacts all major operators, including Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB), urban light rail networks, and even the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) before its commercial launch.
• MRT Kajang Line Incident: The legislative move follows the latest high-profile disruption yesterday (October 16), when unauthorized rail line encroachment and an attempted cable theft caused severe service delays on the MRT Kajang Line.
• Disrupted Commuter Corridors: Rapid KL confirmed that yesterday’s cable theft incident disrupted train operations specifically between the Phileo Damansara and Pusat Bandar Damansara stations during peak travel hours.
• Public Safety Risk: Loke underscored that cable theft constitutes a severe act of infrastructure sabotage that directly compromises public transport safety rather than simple property theft.
• Immediate Prevention Measures: Pending statutory amendments, rail operators have been instructed to step up preventive security by expanding CCTV coverage across strategic tracks and deploying additional auxiliary police personnel to guard restricted railway corridors.

The Ministry of Transport plans to table the legal amendments in Parliament once inter-agency consultations and draft reviews are completed.

–NMT