Malaysia's railway setback linked to site theft
PETALING JAYA – The target to complete the much-touted East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project by December next year is facing an unexpected obstacle – theft of signalling equipment and communication cables.
The contractors have a fight on their hands with over 1,200m of signalling cables reported stolen along its alignment, with 81 outdoor transformer units also removed.
According to Malaysia Rail Link (MRL) Sdn Bhd, the thieves used non-professional cutting tools to get the job done hastily, and even came with transportation.
While cable theft or vandalism is a common problem, thefts along the ECRL track are distressing as the cables and transformers are custom-made, with usual delivery time taking up to six months.
The 665km ECRL, which connects the Klang Valley to the East Coast, is scheduled to be completed by December next year.
It will carry both passengers and freight from the west coast of the country to the east and vice- versa, with speeds of up to 160kph for passenger trains and 80kph for freight trains.
The project, which began in 2017, has recorded an overall progress of 82.45%.
MRL is the special purpose entity to execute the ECRL project.
MRL CEO Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said there were at least two known instances of such thefts along the ECRL alignment.
'The thefts may delay the project delivery.
'We were very much looking forward to the testing and commissioning phase in June next year,' he added.
Since the start of the Communications, Information and Signaling (CIS) systems installation at the ECRL KotaSAS Station in Pahang this March, thieves have struck at no less than seven locations – Paya Besar, Cherating and Kuantan Port City (all in Pahang); Chukai, Dungun and Kemasik (Terengganu) and Pasir Puteh in Kelantan.
At the areas near the KotaSAS Station, the contractor involved, China Communications Construction ECRL Project (CCCC-ECRL) found that some fibre optic cables were left behind after being cut.
Fibre optic cables are said to be worthless in the scrap market as it does not contain metal.
However, the 1,200m of signalling cable which were stolen did contain some metal.
Darwis said MRL will meet with the respective state police chiefs to discuss comprehensive asset protection measures and also raise the issue with the relevant ministers.
Observers note that protecting trackside assets was difficult as cables were often placed in concrete troughs, with thieves just needing to remove the cover to gain quick access to the cable bundle.
Darwis said CCCC-ECRL will bear the losses from the thefts as the project has not been handed over to the government yet.
'That said, we as the project owner will also do our part to curb this problem. The ECRL project team is working closely with police to engage those in the scrap collection or recycling business,' he said.
'We have engaged security personnel to patrol the areas and will install CCTVs at critical areas, although it is not easy to keep watch over such a long alignment,' he said.
It is learnt that the on-ground portions of the entire alignment will be eventually fenced up to prevent intrusions.
'In the meantime, we appeal to the public to help us by quickly alerting authorities if they spot suspicious activities along the alignment,' Darwis said.
Yuslizar Daud, former head of the Land Public Transport Commission's (now defunct SPAD) Rail Division, said these types of theft were tough to overcome.
'It happens all over the world. In the United Kingdom, Network Rail lost almost £20mil (RM114.4mill) a year due to cable theft.
'Here, thieves are very smart and well-organised, with intricate networks. They are always 100 steps ahead of the operators,' he said.
Yuslizar said the only way to effectively resolve the problem was for all rail operators to come together and share intelligence, resources and data.
CCCC-ECRL managing director Deng Bo said theft or vandalism of rail infrastructure was a serious crime in China as it threatened the safety of rail operations, and hence, public safety.
Officials said if equipment theft continues unabated, Malaysia will suffer losses as it will have to bear half the operational losses, if any, when the trains start running by early 2027.
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Asia News Network
a day ago
- Asia News Network
Malaysia's railway setback linked to site theft
June 23, 2025 PETALING JAYA – The target to complete the much-touted East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project by December next year is facing an unexpected obstacle – theft of signalling equipment and communication cables. The contractors have a fight on their hands with over 1,200m of signalling cables reported stolen along its alignment, with 81 outdoor transformer units also removed. According to Malaysia Rail Link (MRL) Sdn Bhd, the thieves used non-professional cutting tools to get the job done hastily, and even came with transportation. While cable theft or vandalism is a common problem, thefts along the ECRL track are distressing as the cables and transformers are custom-made, with usual delivery time taking up to six months. The 665km ECRL, which connects the Klang Valley to the East Coast, is scheduled to be completed by December next year. It will carry both passengers and freight from the west coast of the country to the east and vice- versa, with speeds of up to 160kph for passenger trains and 80kph for freight trains. The project, which began in 2017, has recorded an overall progress of 82.45%. MRL is the special purpose entity to execute the ECRL project. MRL CEO Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said there were at least two known instances of such thefts along the ECRL alignment. 'The thefts may delay the project delivery. 'We were very much looking forward to the testing and commissioning phase in June next year,' he added. Since the start of the Communications, Information and Signaling (CIS) systems installation at the ECRL KotaSAS Station in Pahang this March, thieves have struck at no less than seven locations – Paya Besar, Cherating and Kuantan Port City (all in Pahang); Chukai, Dungun and Kemasik (Terengganu) and Pasir Puteh in Kelantan. At the areas near the KotaSAS Station, the contractor involved, China Communications Construction ECRL Project (CCCC-ECRL) found that some fibre optic cables were left behind after being cut. Fibre optic cables are said to be worthless in the scrap market as it does not contain metal. However, the 1,200m of signalling cable which were stolen did contain some metal. Darwis said MRL will meet with the respective state police chiefs to discuss comprehensive asset protection measures and also raise the issue with the relevant ministers. Observers note that protecting trackside assets was difficult as cables were often placed in concrete troughs, with thieves just needing to remove the cover to gain quick access to the cable bundle. Darwis said CCCC-ECRL will bear the losses from the thefts as the project has not been handed over to the government yet. 'That said, we as the project owner will also do our part to curb this problem. The ECRL project team is working closely with police to engage those in the scrap collection or recycling business,' he said. 'We have engaged security personnel to patrol the areas and will install CCTVs at critical areas, although it is not easy to keep watch over such a long alignment,' he said. It is learnt that the on-ground portions of the entire alignment will be eventually fenced up to prevent intrusions. 'In the meantime, we appeal to the public to help us by quickly alerting authorities if they spot suspicious activities along the alignment,' Darwis said. Yuslizar Daud, former head of the Land Public Transport Commission's (now defunct SPAD) Rail Division, said these types of theft were tough to overcome. 'It happens all over the world. In the United Kingdom, Network Rail lost almost £20mil (RM114.4mill) a year due to cable theft. 'Here, thieves are very smart and well-organised, with intricate networks. They are always 100 steps ahead of the operators,' he said. Yuslizar said the only way to effectively resolve the problem was for all rail operators to come together and share intelligence, resources and data. CCCC-ECRL managing director Deng Bo said theft or vandalism of rail infrastructure was a serious crime in China as it threatened the safety of rail operations, and hence, public safety. Officials said if equipment theft continues unabated, Malaysia will suffer losses as it will have to bear half the operational losses, if any, when the trains start running by early 2027.
CNA
23-06-2025
- CNA
Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link: Project at risk of delay from cable, equipment theft
KUALA LUMPUR: Reported theft of signalling equipment and communication cables could derail Malaysia's much-anticipated East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) at a critical phase before its target completion, according to the project's owner. Chief executive officer of Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) Darwis Abdul Razak said several cases of theft had been detected at specific locations along the ECRL track which spans Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor, reported local media on Monday (Jun 23). '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,' Darwis said in an interview with a Malaysian media delegation in Beijing. The project's targeted completion is December 2026. Over 1,200m of signalling cables have been reported stolen along its alignment, with 81 outdoor transformer units also removed, according to The Star. Since the start of the communications, information and signaling systems installation at the Kota Sultan Ahmad Shah Station in Pahang in March, the thieves have struck at least seven locations. These include Paya Besar, Cherating, and Kuantan Port City in Pahang, Chukai, Dungun and Kemasik in Terengganu as well as Pasir Puteh in Kelantan, reported local media. Darwis, quoted by Free Malaysia Today, said 2025 marked the most critical phase of the project, with the installation of communication, information, and signalling systems underway at the Kota Sultan Ahmad Shah station, and due to proceed simultaneously at other stations soon. At areas near that station, ECRL's main contractor - China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) - discovered that some fibre optic cables had been left behind after being cut. While the extent or value of the damage has not been officially disclosed, The Star reported that fibre optic cables are considered worthless in the scrap market as it does not contain metal and the 1,200m of stolen signalling cable contained some metal. According to MRL, the thieves had used non-professional cutting tools to get the job done hastily and even came with transportation. In response to concerns raised by MRL, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on Monday that he had asked the police to take firmer action against cable theft incidents along railway tracks. 'Firstly, MRL will implement mitigation measures to ensure greater safety at the site. However, I have also contacted the home minister to request that the police take firmer action on this matter,' he said, as quoted by Yahoo News. He added that such theft is not exclusive to the ECRL but has also plagued Peninsular Malaysia's main rail operator, Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM). Loke said cable theft should not be treated as a normal crime, as it poses a threat to national security. 'I have openly called for the police to treat this not merely as a case of theft. This involves public safety, it disrupts public order, and it affects national security. 'Therefore, stricter action under more stringent laws should be taken. That said, I will leave it to the discretion of the police to decide the appropriate course of action, but we cannot treat this as just an ordinary case of theft,' he added. With operations set to begin in 2027, MRL's Darwis said that if CCCC fails to complete the project on time, the conglomerate could incur losses of RM1.25 million (US$292,021) per day. MRL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Ministry of Finance (Incorporated), is the owner of the RM50 billion mega infrastructure project, while CCCC is the main contractor. As the project owner, MRL has lodged police reports on the recent incidents and is stepping up security measures, including the appointment of a dedicated security firm to monitor and safeguard ECRL assets on the ground, Darwis told the media. '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,' said Darwis, as quoted by local news agency Bernama. He also plans to meet with Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and the police chiefs of the affected states to seek their cooperation and solutions to the issue. According to Bernama, the project was 83.38 per cent complete as of May, on track to meet its targeted deadline of December. In other developments, Darwis said the first two electric multiple-unit train sets, along with two electric locomotives for freight operations were expected to arrive in Malaysia by the end of the year, with subsequent sets arriving in stages from April 2026. 'System and train testing and commissioning are scheduled to begin in June 2026. This is a crucial phase that will determine our readiness to begin operations,' he said. The ECRL megaproject linking the Klang Valley in Selangor to the east coast states in Malaysia aims to cut the journey from Gombak, Selangor to Kota Bharu, Kelantan from at least seven hours by car to around four hours by train. Spanning 665km, it is the largest infrastructure project under China's Belt and Road initiative in Malaysia. With speeds of up to 160kmh, the ECRL travels through the Titiwangsa mountains dividing peninsular Malaysia before snaking its way across the vast east coast carrying both goods and passengers. The ECRL was announced in 2016 as a main infrastructure connectivity project that will help propel the Malaysian economy into the top 20 nations by 2050. The line from Kota Bharu, Kelantan to the Gombak Integrated Terminal, Selangor was scheduled for completion by December 2026 and to be operational from January 2027. It is also expected to create an economic spillover effect for local residents as investors set up industries along the line. A rail extension from Gombak to Port Klang is expected in December 2027. MRL - which will own all ECRL assets - has set up a joint venture company with ECRL's main contractor CCCC - to operate the rail line. The joint venture means the two entities will jointly share the costs of operating the ECRL and exchange technical know-how and expertise. Under the arrangement, if the ECRL operates at a deficit, MRL and CCCC will each bear 50 per cent of the risk. If the ECRL operates at a surplus, MRL will get 80 per cent of the earnings, while CCCC will get the remaining 20 per cent.
Business Times
06-05-2025
- Business Times
Changi Airport Terminal 5 contracts worth S$4.75 billion awarded
[SINGAPORE] Changi Airport Group (CAG) announced on Monday (May 5) that contracts of around S$4.75 billion in value for substructure and airside infrastructure works at Changi Airport's Terminal 5 (T5) were awarded to various construction companies. The substructure contract valued at S$3.8 billion was awarded as a joint venture (JV) between the Singapore branch of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and Obayashi Singapore. The JV will involve the construction of the foundation and basements of the T5 main passenger terminal and ground transportation centre, as well as a portion of the tunnels linking T5 and Terminal 2 (T2). The substructure site covers about 140 hectares with a basement depth of up to 28 m – equivalent to about 5,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Previously, CCCC developed two aircraft taxiways connecting runways two and three of Changi Airport's three-runway system as the main contractor, as well as two underground tunnel sections for vehicular traffic underneath the taxiways. As for Obayashi Singapore, it has undertaken major construction projects in Singapore since 1965. These include the 20-year East Coast reclamation project, the Changi Airport air traffic control tower and Jewel Changi Airport. Most recently, it completed the inter-terminal tunnels linking T2 and T5 for the automated people mover and baggage-handling systems. A separate contract of S$950 million was awarded to Hwa Seng Builder for airside infrastructure works. These include the development of remote aircraft stands, connecting taxi lanes and ancillary support buildings. Ong Chee Chiau, CAG's managing director for Changi East, said: 'With a planned capacity of about 50 million passengers annually, T5 represents one of the most complex construction projects in Singapore. Together with our partners, we will ensure that the high standards which define Changi Airport can be replicated or even surpassed in the development works of T5.' The construction of T5 will start in the first half of 2025, and is expected to be completed in the mid-2030s.
