Cable thefts threaten ECRL completion timeline

A series of cable theft incidents is threatening to delay the planning and operational timeline of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, which has reached 83.38% completion and is on track to meet its completion target of December 2026, Bernama reports.

Malaysia Rail Link (MRL) CEO Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said that a number of theft cases of signalling cables have been detected at specific locations along the ECRL track. “These incidents not only raise the cost of repairs and replacements but also risk delaying the train testing and commissioning schedule, which is expected to begin in June 2026,” he said.

According to MRL, cable thieves have removed 1,200 metres of signalling cables and 81 outdoor transformer units along the track alignment since installation of communication, information and signalling systems began in March at the Kota SAS (Sultan Ahmad Shah) station.

Aside from KotaSAS, theft of cables and transformers has also been detected at Paya Besar, Cherating and Kuantan Port City in Pahang); Chukai, Dungun and Kemasik in Terengganu and Pasir Puteh in Kelantan.

Darwis said that MRL has lodged police reports on the incidents and is stepping up security measures, including appointing a dedicated security firm to monitor and safeguard ECRL assets on the ground.

“However, we are also counting on continued cooperation from the authorities and local communities to help curb this crime. This is a national project that we must protect together,” he said, adding that he plans to meet with home affairs minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and police chiefs of the affected states to seek cooperation and solutions to the issue.

The 665 km-long rail project connecting Kota Bharu to Port Klang is expected to reduce travel time between these points to four hours from the current seven hours needed for an equivalent road journey, or more than 12 hours during festive seasons.

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