KUCHING, June 13 -- Efforts to curb vandalism and cable theft affecting public facilities must go beyond arresting perpetrators and focus on those who purchase stolen cables, said Datuk Ibrahim Baki.

The state deputy utility and telecommunication minister noted that demand for stolen cables remains one of the key factors driving such crimes despite various preventive measures being implemented.

"If there are no buyers, there will be no sellers. That is why we need to look at the entire chain of this activity and not merely arrest individuals who steal cables," he said, according to a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) report.

He said this when met after officiating a smart street lighting project at Kampung Nombor Satok here on F...