Minister says 5,427 cases of vandalism with estimated loss of RM42 million reported from 2023 to 2025

By Mohd Abdullah Lee

KUCHING, May 18 2026:  Vandalism cases involving utility and telecommunications infrastructure facilities recorded 5,427 cases with estimated loss of RM42 million from 2023 to 2025, Minister of Utilizes and Telecommunication Julaihi Narawi told the state legislative assembly (SLA) today.

Caption: Minister Julaihi Narawi says that damage to a small cable can have a major impact on utility facilities and telecommunications service networks. 

He said the total included 1,562 cases reported last year.

“Therefore, I would like to call on all parties including the honorable members to help and play a role in preventing this crime of vandalism,” he said in his winding up speech.

He urged them to report any suspicious activity near utility and telecommunications infrastructure facilities to the authorities.

He said damage to a small cable can have a major impact on utility facilities and telecommunications service networks.

He stressed that vandalism remains one of the main challenges of his ministry and its agencies.

“This crime of vandalism involves theft and damage to equipment such as cables, transformers, electricity poles, water pipes and others.

“We cannot take such cases lightly which can become critical issues in addition to hindering development and causing inconvenience to local residents.

“For example, although electricity and telecommunications cables may seem small, the irresponsible act of deliberately cutting these cables has a major impact on the supply of electricity, water and telecommunications.

“Based on records, most of the perpetrators of vandalism are from the unguarded youth group and have no direction in life,” he said.

Julaihi urged the authorities responsible for these youth need to take proactive steps in implementing various intervention programs to address this problem.

He said in some cases, the damage that occurs is very serious and takes a long time to repair. This affects the supply of utility services such as water, electricity and telecommunications facilities including the internet, making daily activities difficult for the public.

“This situation has also caused the ministry and its agencies to receive numerous complaints from the public, including from elected representatives.

“For those who do not understand this situation, they will arbitrarily blame the government through social media without any investigation,” he said.