Syarikat Air Terengganu Sdn Bhd (SATU) has recorded 134 cases of water meter theft involving areas in Kuala Terengganu and Marang since July.
SATU Chief Executive Officer Abdul Karim Endut said the incidents were believed to have been carried out in a coordinated manner rather than being isolated cases, based on the pattern and timing of the thefts occurring across several residential areas.
He said the situation was more concerning as newly installed water meters that had yet to be activated were also among the items targeted by thieves.
“The incidents started suddenly in July, with residents discovering their water meters missing when they woke up. At first, we thought it was an isolated case involving individuals stealing metal, but the pattern suggests it was a planned operation.
“The thieves targeted housing areas and removed meters from entire residential neighbourhoods in a single night,” he said when met during the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) recognition ceremony for the largest group mountain climb by water operator employees in Malaysia on Sunday.
The issue had previously attracted public attention after residents in Kuala Terengganu and Marang expressed concern over the increasing disappearance of water meters, with several incidents also being shared through social media.
Abdul Karim said the cost of each water meter, including installation, was below RM200 per unit, but the actual losses involved wastage of treated water and inconvenience caused to affected users.
He explained that some thieves failed to stop the water flow after removing the meters, resulting in clean water being wasted throughout the night.
“To address the issue, SATU has lodged several police reports and will hold a special meeting with the Terengganu Police Chief tomorrow to discuss preventive measures and further action,” he said.
SATU is also prioritising the replacement of stolen water meters as quickly as possible to reduce water wastage and restore supply services to affected consumers.
Abdul Karim advised affected users to immediately report missing meters to SATU and encouraged residents’ associations to strengthen monitoring efforts within their neighbourhoods.
He added that the cost of replacing stolen meters would depend on the company’s business regulations and the circumstances of each case, including whether the meter was located inside or outside the user’s property boundary.
