KUALA LUMPUR: More than 60 shoplot owners in Ipoh are facing millions of ringgit in electricity claims after their tenants were found to be involved in illegal bitcoin mining activities.
In a press conference yesterday, Gopeng MP Tan Kar Hing revealed that over 30 property owners had reported the issue to their service centres, with efforts underway to gather information from more than 30 additional owners.
The claims range from RM30,000 to RM1.2 million per case.
Tan highlighted that these incidents exposed loopholes in the current legal framework.
"Under the Electricity Supply Act, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) bases its claims on revenue losses from electricity theft. However, the law does not require TNB to prove that the registered account holder is responsible for the theft.
"This creates a legal loophole, allowing illegal mining activities to go undetected while innocent property owners bear the financial burden," he said.
Tan also pointed out that illegal electricity connections could cause power outages, resulting in losses not only for homeowners but also for TNB and the country.
He urged the Energy Commission, under the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry and relevant enforcement agencies to take action against illegal bitcoin mining activities to prevent further crimes.
In the meantime, Tan said he would continue to raise these cases during the upcoming parliamentary session.
He also advised landlords to transfer TNB accounts into their tenants' names when renting out properties to avoid such incidents.
According to China Press, one property owner, Yen Pit Yun, said that the pressure of facing RM1.2 million in unpaid electricity bills from TNB could drive her to bankruptcy.
Yen explained that the upper floor of her two-storey shop lot in Panorama Lapangan Perdana, Simpang Pulai, was rented out to a tenant in July while she operated a hair salon on the ground floor.
"On Aug 30, I noticed the tenant carrying a large bag of thick electrical cables upstairs, which raised my suspicions and led me to file a police report. The next day, the tenant moved out unexpectedly.
"When I went upstairs to inspect the unit, I found it empty, with holes in the walls and damaged partitions, causing significant losses," she said.
She reported the incident to TNB, but two months later, she received a notice informing her of outstanding electricity bills exceeding RM1.2 million, leaving her feeling helpless.
Yen said her only hope now is the assistance of the Gopeng MP and others to resolve the debt issue.
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