KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 19): The Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra) has set up a special committee to tackle fraudulent electricity use in bitcoin mining, and may review related laws and penalties amid rising concerns over meter tampering and unauthorised power consumption.

The committee will review policies, legislation and cross-agency measures to prevent electricity theft, strengthen enforcement, protect affected consumers and propose long-term solutions, Deputy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir told the Dewan Rakyat while wrapping up the Budget 2026 debate on Wednesday.

It will also examine potential improvements to Section 37(3) of the Electricity Supply Act 1990 (Act 447), which currently governs fraudulent electricity use.

Domestic offenders can face fines of RM1,000 to RM50,000, imprisonment of up to one year or both. Non-domestic offenders risk fines of RM20,000 to RM1 million, up to five years’ imprisonment or both.

The committee will include representatives from the finance, digital economy, housing and local government, and home affairs ministries, as well as Bank Negara Malaysia, the Inland Revenue Board, Royal Malaysian Police, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, CyberSecurity Malaysia, local authorities and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA).

The committee’s first meeting is expected by year-end and will be chaired by Akmal Nasrullah. Its recommendations will be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration, including possible regulatory changes targeting illegal bitcoin mining.

Earlier, the Energy Ministry said in a written parliamentary reply that TNB had incurred losses of RM4.57 billion from illegal electricity use by cryptocurrency miners between 2020 and August this year.

A total of 13,827 premises nationwide were found to have been illegally using electricity to mine bitcoin during this period, the ministry noted.

Nevertheless, there are currently no specific laws governing cryptocurrency mining in Malaysia.

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