KUALA LUMPUR – Petronas should be given adequate space to operate following the gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights in April, said Selangor state assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Yunus Hairi.
Ahmad Yunus (Sijangkang-PAS) acknowledged that while Petronas has responsibilities, their response to the incident was quite substantial.
He said that Petronas appears to be open and proactive in addressing the situation.
Ahmad Yunus also questioned whether the development and compliance aspects were sufficiently clear from the beginning.
"Petronas has provided safety assurances, which I believe should reassure residents living near the pipeline," he remarked during a debate on the explosion at the Selangor State Legislative Assembly today.
The gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights last April resulted in the complete destruction of 81 houses, with structural damages exceeding 40%. Additionally, 81% of the houses were partially damaged, while 57% were affected but did not catch fire, and 218 houses remained unaffected, including those in Kampung Tengah, Puchong.
Supporting this view, Datuk Ab Halim Tamuri (Paya Jaras-PAS) emphasised that Petronas should be given a chance and urged transparency from all parties involved regarding the fire incident.
He added that Petronas contributed RM25 million through the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to help rebuild the victims' homes.
"We need all parties to be transparent. It's crucial that the welfare of the people is prioritised. In times of disaster, elected representatives should also be involved. When a significant disaster impacts the community, it has repercussions, so it would be beneficial for them to be included in the information-sharing and support efforts," he said.
Meanwhile, Wan Dzahanurin Ahmad (Sungai Kandis-Bersatu) expressed disappointment that the state government did not continue the criminal investigation, classifying it as no further action (NFA).
"Are the lives of the people so insignificant that a tragedy can be dismissed without immediate action, especially when dozens of homes were destroyed and hundreds were injured, including children, the elderly, and pregnant women?" he questioned.
Wan Dzahanurin believes that while Petronas is taking safety seriously, he, representing Perikatan Nasional (PN), called for a review of the NFA decision.
"We also request that an independent investigation or external audit be conducted to reassess this decision," he added.
On June 30, the investigation report on the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights revealed weaknesses in the soil structure that left the pipeline unsupported.
The investigation also concluded that there was no evidence of sabotage in the incident that occurred on April 1. – July 9, 2025
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