Kelantan:Vandalism and theft of telecommunications infrastructure in Kelantan have escalated to alarming levels, risking disruptions to communication coverage and impacting the local economy.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, these incidents are causing significant financial losses to the telecommunications industry, with millions of ringgit required for repair and restoration efforts. Senior director of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Eastern Region Office, Mohd Fairus Muhamad, highlighted that such disruptions can severely affect learning, work, and business transactions, especially for online entrepreneurs reliant on stable networks.

"What is more concerning is that these estimates do not yet take into account the impact of disruptions on businesses and the daily activities of communities that depend on telecommunications services," he said at the 2026 Kelantan state-level #TelecommunicationsInfrastructureVandalism Prevention Campaign here today.

The impact is even more pronounced when the damaged or stolen infrastructure is shared among multiple telecommunications service providers. Mohd Fairus pointed out that vandalism affecting shared infrastructure could lead to widespread service outages across various providers, including CelcomDigi, Maxis, and U Mobile.

The recovery process is contingent on the availability of replacement components, which often need to be sourced from company headquarters outside Kelantan. To combat this issue, MCMC, together with enforcement authorities and industry players, is enhancing coordination efforts. This includes proposing the establishment of a Telecommunications Infrastructure Vandalism Prevention Sub-Committee involving MCMC, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), local authorities, the Land and District Office, and industry stakeholders.

Mohd Fairus has requested that PDRM inform MCMC about operations like Ops Tembaga to ensure coordinated action, as vandalism cases affect multiple service providers. He also urged the public to report any suspicious activities involving telecommunications infrastructure to MCMC or the police, particularly in areas prone to high rates of vandalism and theft.

Additionally, Mohd Fairus reminded contractors and the public to utilize the Call Before You Dig initiative. This measure is intended to prevent the severing of fibre optic cables during excavation work, which can result in large-scale service disruptions.