{
  "id": 11896266,
  "title": "Kecurian kabel bukan lagi jenayah biasa",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/kecurian-kabel-bukan-lagi-jenayah-biasa",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-04T08:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/pandangan/2026/10/04/kecurian-kabel-bukan-lagi-jenayah-biasa"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia should no longer view cable theft as mere property theft. The incident happening today is far more concerning. This practice is becoming more widespread, more brazen, and more impactful on people's lives and national development. Every time I read reports about stolen cables or watch related viral videos, the question that arises is how well we are actually protecting our nation's strategic assets. Cables are not just metal that can be sold for profit; they are the lifeline of electricity supply, telecommunications, transportation systems, and various public amenities used daily by millions of people. What is more disheartening is that the public ultimately becomes victims. When there is disruption to electricity supply, a breakdown in communication systems or transportation due to cable theft, the public loses time, businesses suffer losses, and the government is forced to spend millions more taxpayer money to repair the damage that could have been prevented. I also see that recently there have been incidents raising public concern about the effectiveness of enforcement. Viral videos on social media have sparked various questions among the public. While each incident needs to be investigated based on facts and legal procedures, public perception of the level of enforcement cannot be taken lightly. The public's trust in the law enforcement institution needs to be maintained through professional, swift, and transparent actions. In my view, the impact of cable theft is far greater than the value of the cables stolen. It can cripple business operations, disrupt healthcare services, hamper communication, disrupt industrial activities, and undermine investor confidence in the nation's ability to protect infrastructure. Although I do not claim that every perpetrator has the intention to sabotage the nation, I believe the consequences left by this activity are akin to a form of sabotage against strategic national assets. Infrastructure built using taxpayers' money has been damaged for the benefit of a few. The cost is borne not only by the government but by the entire public. In my opinion, punishment for cable thieves alone is not enough. The government needs to dismantle the entire syndicate, including the masterminds, middlemen, couriers, and anyone who buys the stolen cables or metal obtained through criminal activities. As long as there is a market for stolen cables, this syndicate will continue to exist. I also believe that sentencing for offenses involving critical national infrastructure needs to be re-examined to match the impact borne by the public. At the same time, the use of technologies such as smart cameras, surveillance drones, cable monitoring systems, and regular patrols needs to be enhanced to reduce the chances of this crime occurring. In any country, anyone who intentionally damages critical infrastructure for personal gain should not be considered just a common thief. They are attacking the public interest. Although their motive may be a planned crime rather than a surveillance operation, the impact left is akin to an act of sabotage against strategic national assets, weakening the security, economy, and welfare of the public. Malaysia needs a stronger stance in protecting strategic assets. If we truly value taxpayers' money and want to build a progressive and competitive nation, we cannot compromise with a crime that threatens national infrastructure. In my view, protecting national assets is a shared responsibility, and it is time we start treating cable theft as a serious threat requiring extraordinary action. Iskandar Khoo Kuan Yiaw is a FMT reader. This article is the writer's opinion and does not necessarily reflect FMT.",
  "summary": "Kerajaan perlu bongkar keseluruhan rangkaian sindiket, termasuk dalang, orang tengah, pengangkut serta mana-mana pihak yang membeli kabel atau logam yang disyaki diperoleh melalui kegiatan jenayah.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Kecurian kabel bukan lagi jenayah biasa",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/kecurian-kabel-bukan-lagi-jenayah-biasa-11897332",
        "published": "2026-10-04T08:45:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}