Train services in north badly hit by cable theft

 

Transport minister Loke Siew Fook inspecting some of the signal cables that are frequently stolen along train tracks in Kedah during his visit to the Alor Setar KTM station today. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Train services in the north have been severely affected by a surge in signal cable thefts, says transport minister Loke Siew Fook.

Loke said the number of service disruptions for the northern KTM Komuter because of cable theft had spiked dramatically from 85 cases in July 2024 to 804 cases in December 2024.

This resulted in losses amounting to RM1.35 million and 162 hours of lost operational time, he said after visiting the Alor Setar KTM station today.

Loke said 20 hotspot locations have been identified, with the Sungai Petani-Tasek Gelugor area recording the highest number of cases (35), followed by Gurun-Sungai Petani (21).

He said the rising number of incidents should not be viewed merely as theft but as a serious act of sabotage that threatens public order and national security.

“These cable theft syndicates endanger the safety of hundreds of passengers and cargo worth millions of ringgit,” he said.

KTM’s auxiliary police have conducted 132 special operations, including 24-hour patrols in hotspot areas like Sungai Petani and Gurun in Kedah and Tasek Gelugor in Penang.

Additional preventive measures include installing CCTVs, deploying drones, setting up anti-climb fences, and securing manhole covers with locking mechanisms. - FMT