SHAH ALAM, Feb 9 — Cases of cable theft in Selangor are showing an alarming upward trend, particularly involving street lighting and road infrastructure, said the state executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Dato' Izham Hashim.
The increase in aluminium prices has been identified as one of the main factors behind the rise in such cases, compared with earlier periods, when most incidents involved copper cables.
The issue was also discussed in detail during the State Standing Committee’s retreat meeting following the increasingly serious and widespread nature of the cases in recent times.
“The value of aluminium is now high. Previously, most cables were copper; now aluminium is used, making them a prime target for theft.
“This situation has resulted in significant losses to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and the Public Works Department (JKR), with reported losses reaching millions of ringgit, especially over the past year,” he said.
Izham was speaking to the media after the handover ceremony for new Selangor JKR vehicles and machinery, as well as the Acceptance Letter for the Long-Term Road Maintenance Contract for 2026-2030, at the Selangor JKR Mini Stadium today.
He added that the state government is currently compiling data and an inventory of losses from JKR, TNB, and the local authorities to obtain a clearer picture of the true severity of the cable theft issue.
Meetings with security agencies, including the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), will be held soon to develop proactive measures to curb such activities.
“The losses do not only involve the cost of replacing cables, but also affect public safety and amenities such as street lighting,” Izham said.
In this regard, the state government will expand the installation of solar-powered street lights as one measure to reduce cable theft.
“We will announce the official figures for the actual losses and further actions after discussions with all relevant parties have been completed,” he said.
