The issue of electricity theft for illegal cryptocurrency mining is not new in Malaysia. We have previously reported on various similar incidents that have occurred throughout Malaysia, and this will continue to happen.
Recently, it was reported that a couple who own a shophouse in Sibu were recently stuck with a debt of RM280,000 in electricity bills. This happened because a company renting the shophouse had been conducting illegal cryptocurrency mining activities since 2024.
At the end of August 2025, they were surprised by an electricity bill arrears of RM280,000 by Sarawak Energy which reportedly cut off the supply to the shophouse. The couple said that they did not know about the matter, because the shophouse was only rented to a company as storage space.
Sarawak Energy said that the electricity bill was charged to the shophouse owner even though no electricity meter was connected because they detected that a direct connection had been made to the location. Further investigation also found that this connection was made illegally.
The shophouse location had been rented for over a year, but apart from the RM1000 rent offered, the couple said they had no other issues until the Sarawak Energy bill was received by them.
Sarawak Energy has also reportedly agreed to reduce the electricity bill to RM98,000 to allow the couple to pay this bill in installments.
