The government is reviewing amendments to existing laws to tighten action against trespassing, vandalism and theft of railway assets, including proposals for harsher penalties for cable theft.
Transport Deputy Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said the amendments are expected to be tabled in Parliament by the end of the year, as current provisions are deemed too lenient and no longer suitable for the current level of threats.
He said existing penalties for trespassing, which range between RM500 and RM1,000, are too low to serve as an effective deterrent.
He added that stricter penalties will be introduced for offences involving railway cable theft, which pose serious safety risks and are becoming increasingly concerning.
He was responding to a supplementary question in the Dewan Rakyat regarding government efforts to curb railway cable theft cases.
Hasbi said a total of 393 cable theft cases were recorded over the past three years, involving nearly 19,756 metres of cables with estimated losses of RM16.3 million.
He added that the government is also strengthening cooperation with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), including engagement with scrap metal dealers and operators to ensure they do not purchase stolen items.
In addition, the Railway Assets Corporation (RAC) has installed 1,146 AI-powered closed-circuit television (CCTV) units in high-risk areas at a cost of around RM14 million.
Drone technology has also been introduced to enhance surveillance in hotspot areas that are difficult to access through routine patrols.
Meanwhile, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) has been approved to acquire 20 scrambler motorcycles for its auxiliary police unit to strengthen patrols and improve response times to incidents along high-risk rail corridors.
