Browse
Log in / Register
Share
KUALA LUMPUR — Two men suspected of stealing communications cables have been arrested after the car they were traveling in plunged into a drain while they tried to flee from police in Taman Sri Watan, Ampang. The official police account, reviewed as of May 9, 2026, said the arrest followed a short late-night chase that began when officers spotted a blue Perodua Aruz without registration plates near Jalan Watan 8.
Ampang Jaya police chief ACP Khairul Anuar Khalid said the operation began with a public tip-off received at about 5:53 a.m. A patrol unit went to the location and found the vehicle parked in a spot that authorities later described as a staging point. When the officers closed in, the driver refused to stop and sped off. The pursuit ended less than a few hundred meters later when the car crashed into a drain behind a row of shops.
“Both men in the vehicle were arrested,” Khalid said in a statement. He also confirmed that officers recovered cables believed to have been targeted for theft.
The case has been opened under several sections of the Penal Code, including Sections 186, 379, 431A, and 124K, together with Section 235 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. Those provisions cover obstructing a public servant, theft, damage to public utility infrastructure, and offenses tied to communications equipment. The range of charges suggests investigators are looking at the case as more than a simple theft, with the escape attempt and possible network disruption factoring into the legal action.
The car’s missing plates have also become a point of attention. Unregistered vehicles are frequently used in cable theft operations because they are harder to trace after an incident. Security observers have noted that thieves often park such cars close to utility poles or junction boxes, strip the cable in a short window, and leave before residents notice the outage.
Viral footage posted on Threads showed officers leading the two suspects away from the scene. In the background, coils of cable could be seen on the ground. The videos were widely shared by residents who complained about internet disruptions in the area. One user noted that a stretch of Taman Sri Watan had experienced intermittent connectivity around the same time, a detail that appears consistent with the police’s account.
Cable theft has become a recurring issue in Malaysia, particularly in suburban neighborhoods where overhead lines and ground-level service boxes are easily accessible. The damage from such theft goes beyond the loss of the cable itself. Network operators often need to replace entire sections of wiring, which can involve days of digging, resplicing, and service restoration. For residents, the immediate effect is often lost internet, phone, or television service, sometimes lasting for hours.
The decision to charge the suspects under the Communications and Multimedia Act reflects the seriousness of the offense. Malaysian law treats disruption to communications infrastructure as a threat to public interest, not just property crime. The inclusion of Section 124K of the Penal Code is also notable, although police have not publicly detailed why that particular section was invoked. Legal observers say the provision may relate to the broader disruption caused by the theft, rather than the value of the stolen materials alone.
As of the latest update in this report, the two detainees remain in police custody, and investigators are expected to seek a remand order to allow further questioning. Police have not announced whether they are looking for other suspects, and no court mention has been scheduled in public records. The vehicle has been seized and will be examined by forensic officers.
The case has also renewed calls for tighter control of scrap metal trading. Industry professionals have repeatedly raised concerns that stolen cable is sold to informal scrap yards, where it is stripped and weighed against cash payments. Without stricter documentation requirements, they argue, thieves will continue to see cables as low-risk targets with quick financial returns.
For residents of Ampang, the arrests have brought a measure of relief. Local authorities have urged members of the public to continue reporting suspicious activity, particularly vehicles parked near utility infrastructure during late night or early morning hours. The original tip-off in this case came from a resident, and police credited that call with enabling the rapid response.
Amore detailed investigation paper will be submitted to the deputy public prosecutor once all evidence has been compiled. Police are also checking whether the two suspects have prior records and whether the stolen cable was connected to a wider theft network operating in the Klang Valley.
The incident is a reminder of the damage that cable theft causes far beyond the loss of materials. The disruption to phone and internet services can affect businesses, emergency communications, and everyday households, making enforcement a priority for local police.
This report was updated on May 9, 2026, to reflect the latest known status of the investigation. Further official updates are expected as the case moves through the legal process.
