{
  "id": 15117155,
  "title": "Loke: Harsher penalties planned for rail cable thieves",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/loke-harsher-penalties-planned-for-rail-cable-thieves",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T04:00:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1557353/loke-harsher-penalties-planned-rail-cable-thieves"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Transport Minister of Malaysia, Anthony Loke, has announced plans to introduce more stringent penalties for individuals involved in stealing railway cables. This move comes as cable theft continues to pose a threat to rail operations and public safety. Speaking at the launch of Penang's first electric bus, Loke stated that the Ministry of Transport is collaborating with the Home Ministry to amend existing laws and tighten the penalties against cable thieves. The specifics of the proposed amendments have not yet been finalized, but discussions are currently at the policy stage. Loke emphasized that cable theft is not a routine criminal offense; rather, it poses a significant risk to railway operations and the safety of passengers. Every incident of cable theft can disrupt rail services, leading to operational delays, compromising passenger safety, and compromising the overall reliability of the country's rail network. To combat this issue, Loke advised that rail operators should enhance preventive measures, such as installing closed-circuit television cameras at key locations and increasing the presence of auxiliary police to guard restricted areas. Furthermore, he stressed that enforcement and prevention strategies must be implemented concurrently to safeguard railway infrastructure from theft and service disruptions. Recent incidents, including the recent theft of about 100 meters of cable between the Phileo Damansara and Pusat Bandar Damansara MRT stations, have underscored the ongoing concerns over cable theft in Malaysia's transport sector. Police are currently investigating the incident and working to identify the culprits responsible.",
  "summary": "GEORGE TOWN: The Transport Ministry is drafting legal amendments to impose tougher penalties on cable thieves, including longer jail terms and heavier fines.",
  "key_points": [
    "Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke plans harsher penalties for rail cable theft.",
    "Cable theft threatens rail operations and passenger safety in Malaysia.",
    "Enhanced preventive measures and concurrent enforcement urged to combat theft."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Putrajaya mulls longer jail terms, higher fines for rail cable theft to protect public safety, says Loke",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/putrajaya-mulls-longer-jail-terms-higher-fines-for-rail-cable-theft",
        "published": "2026-10-17T04:13:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}