Malaysia Loses RM50.05 Million to Railway Cable Theft Over Three Years

Malaysia has incurred losses totaling RM50.05 million over the past three years due to cable theft incidents on railway tracks across the country since 2024. Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah stated that these losses impacted railway lines operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB), Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Prasarana), and the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project.

According to the minister, KTMB recorded 432 cases of cable theft between 2024 and June of the current year. These incidents involved approximately 19,756 meters of cable, with an estimated loss of RM16.3 million. The thefts disrupted the train control system, leading to operational delays. In 2025 alone, cable theft caused 246 hours of delay for the Electric Train Service (ETS) and 135 hours for the KTM Komuter service, though no delays were reported for the Intercity service.

For the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) systems managed by Prasarana, 163 cases of cable theft were recorded, resulting in estimated losses of RM29 million. These incidents affected the MRT Kajang and Putrajaya lines, as well as the LRT Ampang/Sri Petaling lines. The thefts impacted operational reliability and necessitated prompt repair and maintenance.

The ECRL project, currently under construction, also faced similar issues. As of June 8, 71 cable theft cases were reported, with an estimated loss of RM4.06 million. An additional 13 cases involved the theft or damage of other related equipment and materials, amounting to RM0.69 million, bringing the total ECRL-related loss to RM4.75 million. While these incidents have not yet disrupted passenger services, they pose a potential threat to the project's implementation schedule, including installation, testing, commissioning, and operational readiness.