KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 — 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).
Its chief executive officer T. Saravanan said the government, regulators, and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (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.
Saravanan 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 calls 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.
Yesterday, Energy Transition and Water Transformation Deputy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said that electricity theft linked to illegal bitcoin mining activities has resulted in RM4.8 billion in losses from 2018 to June of this year.
— Bernama
