A total of 20 hotspots have been identified along the northern commuter railway line where signalling and communication cables are often stolen, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Speaking at a press conference after visiting the Alor Setar KTM station on Monday (March 24), Loke said these thefts have not only disrupted KTM Komuter services but also caused RM1.35mil in losses, inconveniencing daily commuters.
He emphasised that cable theft is more than just a criminal act—it poses a serious risk to public safety.
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Speaking at a press conference after visiting the Alor Setar KTM station on Monday (March 24), Loke said these thefts have not only disrupted KTM Komuter services but also caused RM1.35mil in losses, inconveniencing daily commuters.
He emphasised that cable theft is more than just a criminal act—it poses a serious risk to public safety.
Read more at https://tinyurl.com/5zphawc4
WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
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NewsTranscript
00:00I would like to give a message to the media regarding an important issue,
00:13which is why there is always a problem with the welfare system in the North,
00:20especially last year and this year.
00:26There is always a problem with the welfare system,
00:30and it happens almost every week.
00:34We have received the data and we know from the Ministry
00:38that this problem has reached a very critical stage
00:41and it is indeed harming the public.
00:44We are very sorry for the disruption that has been received by the public.
00:49We also do not want to harm the public.
00:51We want our passengers to receive our services with joy,
00:55but often times, especially from the KTMB,
01:00we are insulted and criticized by the passengers.
01:08We do not blame the passengers.
01:11We know their frustration.
01:13We know that they are very uncomfortable when their services are disrupted,
01:18especially when the train stops before they reach the station.
01:24But what they do not know, what actually happens,
01:28is not because of the problems of the KTMB,
01:33but the issue of sabotage on the KTM infrastructure,
01:37which has been so bad,
01:41because we are facing a big problem,
01:44which is the theft of the cable,
01:46the continuous transmission and communication system,
01:49which has a negative impact on the KTM's services in the Australian sector.
01:53The number of theft cases has increased from 7 cases in the 3rd quarter of 2024
02:02to 36 cases in the 4th quarter of 2024.
02:07It has increased almost fourfold.
02:10From 7 cases in the 3rd quarter last year,
02:14to 36 cases in the 4th quarter,
02:17from October to December.
02:20So, in the span of 3 months,
02:2336 cases have occurred.
02:25That means 12 cases every month.
02:29Almost every 2-3 days.
02:32Every time there is a theft,
02:34the transmission and communication system is disrupted.
02:42Every week, it happens 2-3 times.
02:45And as many as 20 hospice locations have been affected.
02:49Where the agricultural river sector to Tasik Bulunggo
02:51recorded the highest number of cases,
02:53which is 35 cases.
02:55And the agricultural river sector decreased to 21 cases last year.
02:59As a result, the number of incidents of disruption to the KTM North Computer service
03:03resulting from the theft case
03:05has increased from 85 incidents in July 2024
03:10to 804 incidents in December 2024.
03:15The cost of repair is Rp 1.35 million.
03:19With a loss of 162 hours due to the operation delay.
03:25The number of theft cases,
03:27the system of transmission and communication that has increased dramatically,
03:30cannot be underestimated.
03:32Because this is not a mere theft crime.
03:36The transmission system acts to control the movement of trains
03:39carrying hundreds of passengers and passengers who lost millions of ringgit safely.
03:43The theft of the transmission cable system not only disrupts the KTM service,
03:47but also has the potential to disrupt passenger and passenger safety.
03:51Syndicate stealing cable address sabotage is a bad policy
03:54that violates public order and national security.
03:58Therefore, the action of the authorities must be increased
04:01and the focus should be put on the regulation of the law
04:05regarding public order and national security.
04:08The Ministry of Transportation will work closely with the agencies,
04:12especially the police, PDRM,
04:15to hunt down the thieves who sabotage the national infrastructure
04:19and endanger the public
04:21so that they are brought to justice.
04:24The KTMB has carried out 132 special operations
04:29including 24-hour reduction in hot areas
04:32around Busukapitani, Gurun and Tasik Rurubu.
04:36The KTMB has also improved the Axel Counter system
04:39and Axel Counter equipment with a cost of 12.8 million ringgit
04:43in three years in the hot areas.
04:47In addition to adding monitoring and prevention infrastructure such as CCTV,
04:50drone, anti-theft and anti-theft devices,
04:53the KTMB has also installed an at-home lock with a new lock mechanism.
04:57For the information, we see, as I said earlier,
04:59we see in detail, we go, we have searched,
05:02where is the ending of this thing, where is it stolen?
05:05We realize that the end of the day is the majority,
05:10the premise of the stolen goods.
05:13And on the 5th of March,
05:15the police took the initiative
05:17to make an appointment with the enemy's enforcers
05:21at the APK headquarters,
05:23headed by the head of the police headquarters.
05:26I was there, the KTMB was there,
05:31and we forced the buyers,
05:34because we realized that if the buyers are more responsible,
05:37they do not dare to buy,
05:39there is no effect on the goods,
05:42there is no way to deal with the thief.
05:46So we forced the enforcers to work together with us,
05:50which will ultimately prevent the theft.
05:56And back to the question earlier,
05:58our work at the end of last year and the beginning of this year,
06:02for the information, we arrested a group of 5 locals
06:06who are responsible for the theft of this cable
06:11in the Burun and Pendang area.
06:14And we have proven that by arresting them,
06:18the theft will stop.