Malaysia, August 2026 – Cable theft has emerged as a significant operational and financial challenge for Malaysia’s railway sector, affecting infrastructure managed by KTMB, Prasarana Malaysia Berhad and the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project. The incidents have disrupted railway systems and required costly repairs and maintenance.
KTMB recorded 432 cable theft cases between 2024 and June 2026, involving approximately 19,756 metres of cable and losses estimated at RM16.3 million. The thefts affected train movement control systems, contributing to 246 hours of delays for Electric Train Services (ETS) and 135 hours for KTM Komuter in 2025. No delays were recorded for Intercity services during the same period.
Prasarana reported a further 163 cable theft cases involving the MRT Kajang Line, MRT Putrajaya Line and Ampang/Sri Petaling LRT lines, with estimated losses of RM29 million. Beyond the immediate financial impact, such incidents can undermine operational reliability and require urgent intervention to restore affected railway infrastructure.
The ECRL project has also experienced security-related losses despite remaining under construction. As of June 8, 71 cable theft cases had resulted in approximately RM4.06 million in losses, while 13 additional cases involving equipment and system-related materials brought total ECRL losses to RM4.75 million. Although passenger services have not been affected, continued incidents could interfere with installation, testing, commissioning and operational preparation.
The scale of the losses highlights the importance of protecting railway assets throughout both construction and operational phases. For rail operators and infrastructure developers, stronger asset security and preventive measures will remain important to maintaining service reliability, controlling lifecycle costs and safeguarding the timely delivery of major rail projects.
Source: Malay Mail
