BERNAMA – TELCO CABLE THEFTS: GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS HEAVIER SANCTIONS

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 (Bernama) — The government is considering imposing tougher penalties on those involved in stealing telecom cables that disrupt service.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the sanction would be proposed in the amendment to the Communications and Multimedia Law of 1998, currently being considered by the Attorney General’s Office.

“I will request the team of the Ministry of Communications and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to review and provide comments and recommendations (sanctions) because at present, the draft amendment to the law is currently being examined and studied, including several provisions on the quality of service aspects of networks (telecommunications).

“We have made this amendment not only because we have seen incidents of cable theft and vandalism, but also because of (disruptions to) the quality of telecommunications services, as this is one of the points often raised by users and therefore it is examined carefully before bringing to Parliament later,” he told reporters at Lembah Pantai’s Korban Perdana program here today.

Fahmi, who is also Lembah Pantai MP, said this in response to a question on government action to stop the theft of copper telecommunication cables, which is becoming increasingly prevalent at the moment.

Regarding the Ministry of Housing and Local Government’s (KPKT) decision to create a team of “online ambassadors” to provide information and ward off slander in cyberspace, Fahmi said his ministry was not against the effort .

“I don’t see that the establishment will lead them to enter (touch) the jurisdiction of other parties but we must coordinate in terms of information to be transmitted.

“God willing, I will look into this matter with the minister (Nga Kor Ming) as I have not had the opportunity to get a full briefing from the KPKT regarding this effort,” he said.

On Thursday, Nga announced the creation of a 200-member “online ambassador” team from the ministry to combat defamation and effectively deliver authentic information and government policies.

–BERNAMA

BERNAMA provides up-to-date, authentic and comprehensive news and information which is delivered through BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels IFLIX and BERNAMA Radio on frequencies FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) .

Follow us on social media:
Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio
Twitter: @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio
Instagram: @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial
TIC Tac: @bernamaofficial