Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) reported losses of nearly RM30 million during 2025 due to electricity theft linked to illegal Bitcoin mining in Melaka.
The State Deputy Exco for Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Communications, Datuk Mohd Noor Helmy Abdul Halem, confirmed that the total loss of RM29.63 million represents a substantial increase from 2024.
Recorded losses reached RM10.46 million in 2024, showing that the figure climbed by RM19.17 million within a year.
The frequency of these illegal activities has grown significantly.
Authorities detected 85 cases in 2025, which is a sharp rise from the 30 cases reported in 2024.
Datuk Mohd Noor Helmy stated that these figures indicate such operations are becoming increasingly active in the state.
He shared these details following an enforcement operation at an unoccupied house in Taman Tambak Paya Harmoni.
The raid revealed the methods used by miners to hide their operations. Investigators found that electrical cables had been concealed using curtain fabric to evade detection by TNB and the authorities.
TNB lost an estimated RM8,000 per month to stolen electricity at this specific site.
The illegal setup caused significant financial damage and disrupted the electricity supply to three neighbouring homes.
Such interference demonstrates the broader risks that such unauthorised activities pose to the local community.
Authorities effectively ended the illegal activity at the location during their collaborative raid. However, they were unable to detain anyone because the house was unoccupied when the teams arrived.
This incident marks the second major case in Melaka for 2026. In January, a separate raid on two shop units uncovered an illegal mining setup that caused estimated losses of RM1.6 million.
Authorities remain on high alert to identify further illegal connections and prevent additional supply disruptions.
Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Malaysia based on an image by TNB.
