Temerloh: Over 1,600 metres (m) of connector cables for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project between Temerloh and Bentong were reported stolen recently. China Communications Construction (ECRL) Sdn Bhd (CCCECRL), in a statement today, said that 1,080 m of cables were stolen along the Temerloh-Lanchang stretch, while 599 m went missing along the Lanchang-Bentong alignment, within a period of two weeks.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, CCCECRL strongly condemns the theft of connector cables along the ECRL alignment from Temerloh to Bentong. The incident has caused damage to the rail infrastructure and has the potential to disrupt the completion schedule of this national project. Since June, a series of thefts involving rail components, including cables and transformers, have been detected. The latest incident indicates a trend of thefts that directly affects the progress of the project.

CCCECRL stated that the theft increases repair and replacement costs and contributes to delays in the overall project progress. The replacement components, which are custom-ordered, take months to procure, affecting the critical role of the ECRL project in delivering long-term social and economic benefits to the East Coast Region and the nation.

A police report was lodged at the Lanchang police station, and CCCECRL is working closely with the police for further investigations. The public is advised not to purchase any electrical cables or components believed to belong to the ECRL project and to immediately report any suspicious activities to the police or the nearest CCCECRL section office.