Malaysian police have dismantled four criminal groups allegedly involved in robbery and cable theft activities targeting infrastructure linked to the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project and Telekom Malaysia (TM).
The police operations represent a significant effort to combat organised property crime, particularly theft involving valuable telecommunications and infrastructure materials.
Cable theft has become a serious concern due to its potential to disrupt essential services, damage public infrastructure and cause substantial financial losses to project operators and service providers.
According to Temerloh District Police Chief ACP Mohd Nasyim Bahron, a series of operations conducted between 12 and 19 October 2026 across Temerloh and Mentakab, Pahang, resulted in the arrest of 17 Malaysian men aged between 20 and 60. Police linked the suspects to seven reported cases involving two robberies at ECRL cable storage facilities and five TM cable thefts, with estimated losses of RM75,000.
The four groups were identified as Geng Ravi, Geng Kepala, Geng Dany and Geng Mista. Investigations also linked some suspects to cable thefts involving Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), as well as abandoned factories and construction sites. Police said several other suspected accomplices remain at large.
Authorities seized vehicles, including a lorry, along with stolen cable coils, cut cables, metal components and equipment allegedly used to steal and process the materials. The suspects are being investigated under several provisions of the Penal Code and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
