KUALA LUMPUR: Electricity theft can no longer be treated as an isolated technical violation, as it costs the government billions of ringgit annually, necessitating immediate and decisive action, said the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA).
FOMCA Chief Executive Officer, Dr T. Saravanan, said the government, regulators and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) must invest in stronger detection systems, including the use of smart meters, real-time monitoring, and data analytics, to identify suspicious consumption patterns.
“Enforcement efforts must be intensified, not only targeting the operators of illegal mining farms but also extending legal accountability to landlords, enablers and financiers who profit from or facilitate these activities.
“Moreover, the legal framework governing electricity theft must be urgently revised to ensure that fines are proportionate to the scale of theft, and prison sentences reflect the seriousness of these crimes,” he said in a statement today.
He also suggested that Malaysia consider establishing clear and regulated pathways for legal crypto-mining operations.
“By creating special tariffs and licensing systems for registered mining businesses, the country can better control energy use in this sector, monitor compliance and prevent black-market activities,” he said.
FOMCA called for transparency and accountability in addressing these losses, ensuring consumers are informed whether they are indirectly subsidising criminal activities through higher electricity bills and what measures are in place to protect them from such unfair burdens.
“Public trust hinges on open communication, clear government responses and fair solutions that do not penalise honest Malaysians,” said Saravanan.
He noted that the government and TNB must act decisively, communicate clearly with the public, and implement strong measures to ensure that ordinary Malaysians do not bear the financial cost of criminal greed.
On Thursday, Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, said electricity theft linked to illegal bitcoin mining activities has caused RM4.8 billion in losses from 2018 to June this year. – BERNAMA
