MEDIA RELEASES

KUCHING
4 JULY 2024

Sarawakians are growing increasingly concerned of the rise in vandalism, prompting action from local authorities.

Sarawak Minister for Utility and Telecommunication, Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi stressed that vandalism is the cause of damage to utilities namely electricity, water, telecommunication, and other services.

He highlighted that there have been 1,406 cases of vandalism reported, causing damage to electricity, water, telecommunications, and other related facilities, resulting in losses of nearly RM20 million.

“One of the best preventive measures to control vandalism and the activities of secondhand goods traders in Sarawak is through the enforcement of the Secondhand Dealers Act, 1946 by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM). This enforcement can be carried out in cooperation with agencies, as seen in the recent operations conducted by the PDRM,” he said this during the launch of the Vandalism Prevention Campaign for Utility and Telecommunication Infrastructure at BCCK on Wednesday.

He also said that under the provisions of this Act, any second-hand goods shop operator and any person selling second-hand goods without a licence under section 6 of the Act can be prosecuted in court.

Furthermore, Dato Sri Julaihi also highlighted the importance of verifying the source of iron scraps being sold in the black market, emphasising that thorough checks can help prevent the circulation of stolen material.

“I witnessed in Bintulu how cables needed for a new telecommunications tower were installed, but 76 metres were cut and vanished in one night, despite the copper being new, not scrap metal, these incidents caused them to be classified as scrap metal, prompting the need for verification to stop them from being sold or accepted from suspicious sources soon,” he added.

He called for the cooperation from the public, community leaders, and village heads in each locality so that they can work together with PDRM in combating the menace.

Dato Sri Julaihi hopes for increased patrols and surveillance by authorities, police, utility and telecommunications providers, and support and cooperation from used goods traders to ensure goods sold are not from suspicious sources.

At the same time to promptly report any suspicious items intended for sale, to the relevant authorities, especially the police.

Also present during the launch of the campaign at BCCK were the Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication, Datuk Liwan Lagang, Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh, Deputy Minister of Corporate Affairs, Information, and Public Communication Unit of Sarawak, Datuk Abdullah Saidol, Sarawak Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, Datuk Ir Aidel Lariwoo, Sarawak Police Commissioner, Dato Mancha Ata and others.

Source: Unit Komunikasi Awam Sarawak: https://premierdept.sarawak.go...