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FOLLOWING the gas pipeline fire that devastated Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, 130 families out of the 235 homes that were inspected have been given permission to return to their residences.
The clearance came after authorities confirmed that the areas had been deemed safe.
Selangor Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, confirmed today that the homes cleared for return are located in the Taman Putra Harmoni area. Residents of Kampung Sungai Baru, however, have not yet been granted permission to return home.
"The fire and safety experts have confirmed that Kampung Sungai Baru has not yet reached the necessary safety standards for residents to return. Therefore, we cannot permit the residents to go back just yet," Amirudin explained in a press conference today.
He urged those who have not been cleared to return to their homes to refrain from doing so, stressing that no guarantees of safety can be made at this stage. "Authorities will also tighten controls in areas where residents are still prohibited from returning to prevent any unforeseen incidents," he added.
Previously, some residents had been allowed brief access to their homes to retrieve important documents, but tighter monitoring will now be enforced.
"We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and the return of residents will proceed gradually once safety confirmations are provided by the relevant agencies," Amirudin said.
Regarding the number of affected families, Amirudin reported that the total number of households registered at the Temporary Evacuation Centre (PPS) had risen to 509, an increase from the 308 families initially recorded earlier in the week.
The surge in figures was attributed to families returning to their homes after the Eid al-Fitr celebrations.
"Of the 509 families, 157 are currently staying at the PPS, while 352 have managed their own accommodation outside of the centre," he added.
He said the state has announced a new assistance category to support tenants who were impacted by the recent gas pipeline fire. This decision comes as difficulties were encountered in determining the exact number of affected households and victims due to the presence of rental properties, many of which had multiple units, making it hard to gather accurate data for aid distribution.
Amirudin explained that the government will now introduce an additional aid category for tenants, providing them with RM2,500 in support. This new category will complement the existing aid for homeowners, which includes RM5,000 for those with completely damaged homes and RM2,500 for those with partially affected properties.
"Previously, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had announced immediate assistance of RM5,000 for homeowners with fully damaged properties and RM2,500 for those with partial damage.
“However, we found it challenging to gather accurate data due to the presence of multiple-door rental homes, which complicated the identification process," Amirudin explained during a press conference.
In light of this, Amirudin also confirmed that efforts are underway to ensure no victims are left out of the assistance process. "We are actively reaching out to identify any groups who may have been overlooked in receiving aid. Our teams will contact them directly to gather information about their locations and the specific nature of the damage to their properties," he said.
Amirudin further reassured the public that the distribution of assistance would be completed by next week, thanking organisations like Petronas, the Department of Social Welfare (JKM), and the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) for their collaborative efforts in managing the aid distribution and helping victims affected by the fire.
The introduction of this new aid category for tenants is a significant step in ensuring that all those impacted by the Putra Heights gas explosion, regardless of their housing status, will receive the financial support they need during this challenging time.
He also urged any remaining victims who have not yet registered at the PPS to do so immediately, as registration will close tomorrow.
On April 3, residents from 85 homes affected by the gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights on April 1 were allowed to return to their homes. The authorities continue to work to ensure the safety and well-being of all those affected by the disaster, with plans for further evaluations and staged returns. – April 5, 2025
