By Aida Aziz
IPOH: A State Network Integrity and Security Committee has been established in response to the increasing incidence of cable theft, open manholes, and vandalism affecting telecommunications infrastructure in Perak.
Perak Communications, Multimedia and NGO Committee chairman Mohd Azlan Helmi said the state government had formed the committee to strengthen cooperation among various agencies in addressing the issue.
He said the committee, established on May 12, is tasked with coordinating enforcement, monitoring and preventive measures related to such incidents.
“We take seriously the increasing number of cable theft cases, open manholes and acts of vandalism involving telecommunications infrastructure, which have a direct impact on public safety and the stability of communication networks in Perak.
“The committee involves collaboration between the Perak State Legal Adviser’s Office, the State Economic Planning Unit, the Local Government Division under the Perak State Secretary’s Office, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Digital Perak Corporation Holdings, the police, Telekom Malaysia and telecommunications service providers,” he said.
Mohd Azlan added that based on the latest data from Telekom Malaysia (TM) as of March this year, a total of 377 cases of open manholes had been recorded.
The figure represents a 68 per cent increase compared with the corresponding period last year.
He said the significant upward trend is believed to be driven by the high market value of copper, which has fuelled underground cable theft and acts of vandalism against telecommunications facilities across the state.
To address the issue more effectively, the state government will utilise stricter legal provisions under Section 235 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
“Under this provision, enforcement is not limited to cable theft. Anyone found damaging, tampering with or sabotaging telecommunications infrastructure may also face stern legal action,” he said.
