GEORGE TOWN: Cable theft must be treated as a serious public safety threat rather than a mere property crime, with stronger laws needed to protect critical infrastructure.
Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the theft of copper cables and signalling components could compromise safety-critical systems supporting rail services, electricity supply, and telecommunications.
He said enforcement efforts focused solely on arresting thieves were unlikely to provide lasting deterrence without tackling the wider networks enabling stolen materials to enter legitimate supply chains.
"Arresting foot soldiers alone rarely delivers lasting deterrence," he said today, stressing the need to address mechanisms through which stolen materials are disposed of and absorbed into the market.
