Telcos lose RM10 million in cable theft yearly

HULU TERENGGANU: Telecommunication companies lose about RM10 million yearly in telecommunication tower cable thefts, according to Communications and Multimedia Deputy Minister Datuk Jailani Johari.

“We hope for cooperation from local residents and authorities to reduce the crime rate,” he told a media conference after launching the 1Malaysia ( Chapu, Felda Mengkawang, Menerong and Padang Tera) internet centre at Kampung Chapu here yesterday.

Jailani said the ministry through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission would continue in its efforts to increase broadband penetration throughout the country. “The cost of building each tower is about RM1.2 million and will increase depending on the situation such as when it involved taking over land, road access to the construction site and so on,” he said.

Jailani who is also Hulu Terengganu member of parliament said Terengganu currently has 83 telecommunication towers and that a few more would potentially be built in areas with poor coverage including this district.

Meanwhile, he said the 1M Internet centre at Kampung Chapu would be the first in the peninsula to be used as a collection and local product distribution centre.

“Aside from being a centre to access internet, residents can generate their economy by selling their products online. We will cooperate with Pos Malaysia, which will collect the products for delivery to the buyers,” he said. — Bernama