Kelantan Telecom Vandalism Raises Costs and Connectivity Risks

Kota Bharu, 23 September 2026 – Theft and vandalism of telecommunications facilities in Kelantan have reached an alarming level, according to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, raising both repair costs and the risk of service interruptions for households and businesses. The regulator’s warning shifts attention from the visible expense of stolen equipment to the wider economic cost when a shared network asset fails.

Mohd Fairus Muhamad, senior director of the commission’s eastern regional office, said the industry is bearing losses running into millions of ringgit for repairs and restoration. He did not provide a precise aggregate in the available statement, so that figure should not be presented as a quantified state-wide total. The reported amount also excludes business interruption and other indirect losses.