Their renewed demand follows the release of a policy brief titled “Putra Heights One Year On: Unanswered Questions Remain”.
SUBANG JAYA: One year after the devastating gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights, three civil society groups have renewed their calls for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI), warning that crucial questions remain unanswered and accountability gaps persist.
The Artivist Network, Greenpeace Malaysia and RimbaWatch stated that official investigations have allegedly failed to fully examine systemic issues regarding pipeline routing, monitoring and regulatory oversight.
Their renewed demand follows the release of a policy brief titled “Putra Heights One Year On: Unanswered Questions Remain”.
RimbaWatch co-founder Adam Farhan said the disaster revealed deep-seated problems in Malaysia’s pipeline safety and urban planning.
“Planning decisions allowed pipelines to be situated near residential areas, buffer zones were inadequate and community safety protocols were weak.
This was not simply an accident. It raises serious questions about how high-pressure pipelines are managed in Malaysia,” he told a press conference today.
A Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) report, tabled on Oct 6, 2025, concluded the explosion was primarily caused by ground conditions rather than operational failures. It found that waterlogged soil caused the ground to sink 24.3cm, shifting the pipeline 15.9cm and weakening a welded joint.
Despite the findings of the PSSC, the NGOs argue that several critical areas were allegedly overlooked, particularly regarding who authorised the pipeline’s construction through land already earmarked for residential development.
They point to historical alignment records indicating that while the route was established as early as 1989, housing projects were still permitted to be built directly adjacent to the high-pressure line.
The groups highlight a significant gap in public awareness, noting that under the international ASME B31.8 standard, operators are required to actively inform the community on how to identify and report potential leaks.
However, they contend that Petronas Gas Berhad’s safety communication was allegedly insufficient, as it was largely limited to basic physical signage and a dedicated hotline.
The groups are urging the government to establish a full RCI under the Commissions of Enquiry Act 1950, with the power to subpoena witnesses and documents.
They demanded the inquiry to specifically examine potential negligence by the Subang Jaya City Council, the Energy Commission, PGB and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).
The groups recommended clarifying the Energy Commission’s role in pipeline safety to ensure more robust oversight and accountability.
They also called for the strengthening of public communication and emergency protocols, ensuring that residents are better informed and prepared for potential hazards.
The NGOs proposed a comprehensive phasing out of fossil fuel energy by 2050, which would include a formal ban on the construction of all new coal and gas plants starting from 2026.
“Reducing reliance on high-pressure gas pipelines would eliminate the risk of similar disasters in the future,” Adam said.
On the first anniversary of the blast, the NGOs warned that without decisive action, these vulnerabilities would continue to threaten future projects.
