Cable thieves having field day: TM seen not acting on unused phone cables despite being alerted
Published on: Monday, March 18, 2024
By: Nikko Fabian
Henrynus said the cable thieves are not believed to be locals but a highly organised group with sophisticated information, manpower and equipment.
Kota Kinabalu: Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (Anak Negeri) urged Telekom Malaysia to retrieve all unused telephone cables across major roads in Sabah to deter thieves.
“There is rise in copper telephone cable theft in Ranau.
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Recently, cables along the entire length of Jalan Marakau Ranau were stolen, believed to have been sold as scrap metal,” said its President Datuk Henrynus Amin.
He urged Telekom Malaysia to inspect, remove or recover telephone cables hanging precariously and blocking road access.
He noted the problem extends beyond Ranau, with other districts such as Kota Belud also experiencing cable thefts.
“Despite reporting about the incident at Kg Marakau to Telekom Ranau, no action was taken to remove or recover the remaining cables.
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“This inaction raises questions about the commitment of Telekom Malaysia’s top officials to address the issue,” he said in a statement.
Henrynus said the cable thieves are not believed to be locals but a highly organised group with sophisticated information, manpower and equipment.
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“The criminals are swift and efficient, loading stolen cables onto trucks and disappearing without a trace.”
Local residents managed to interrupt a recent theft at Kg Marakau, causing the thieves to flee and leave behind bundles of cut cables.
A suspicious red Axia car was also reported at the scene, potentially monitoring the situation.
These thieves operate under the cover of darkness, making it difficult for witnesses to provide crucial details such as licence plate numbers.
Henrynus alerted Ranau police and called for increased surveillance in areas vulnerable to cable theft.
He urged police to intensify surveillance and investigate scrap metal buyers or collection centres for unusual purchases of copper scrap metal.
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