KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 —The police announced that their probe into the recent gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, would focus on elements of mischief and negligence.
Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said that 56 statements have been recorded so far from victims, the developer, contractors and the main witness, a security guard at a shop near the area of the incident who was injured in the fire, and also that the police have received 20 dashcam recordings from social media and witnesses.
He also confirmed that there was excavating work done near the area of the incident to replace sewerage pipes using a backhoe and an excavator that stopped on March 30, two days before the explosion and fire occurred.
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Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan speaks during a press conference on the April 1 gas pipeline fire along Jalan Putra Harmoni in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, on April 4, 2025. — Picture by BERNAMA[/caption]
The preliminary technical investigation report on the cause of the explosion was expected in two weeks, while the full report would be expected to be completed two weeks after that.
The delay in the preliminary report was due to the structure of the original landscape being rendered unstable due to the impact of the explosion.
Hussein noted that the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) had stated a gas leak would not have been able to cause the explosion, as an explosion of such a size would require three elements — gas, air, and an ignition.
“Our preliminary investigation found that the pipeline was already over 30 years old, having been built in 1991, with Petronas conducting maintenance work on it,” he said during a press conference yesterday evening.
Meanwhile, 46 out of 134 victims of the fire were still being treated at various hospitals and clinics, while 394 people from 99 families were still at the temporary relief centre at Masjid Putra Heights, and 111 people from 28 families were at the Subang Jaya City Council's (MBSJ) Camelia Putra Heights Hall as of yesterday evening.
1,254 people from 308 families were affected by the explosion and fire, with 87 houses completely destroyed and rendered uninhabitable, while 148 others sustained damage and could be inhabited after repairs are conducted.
JBPM director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said that currently, residents of only less than 20 per cent of the damaged houses would be allowed to return home after a safety assessment is done by MBSJ, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, and electrical wiring contractors.
Earlier yesterday morning, Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari said the Selangor Housing and Property Board would offer over 100 temporary houses under the SMART Sewa Selangor scheme to the victims, who could be rehomed within one to two weeks.
Victims also continued to receive aid from various parties, including the use of vehicles from Chery Malaysia for a month, RM500 immediate aid for every Muslim head of household from the Selangor Zakat Board, school uniforms from the Darul Ehsan Islamic Foundation (YIDE), and counselling was provided to 142 victims under the Yayasan Kebajikan Negara initiative.
Finally, the Digital Ministry is studying requests from victims to replace damaged gadgets, including laptops, internet facilities and mobile phones, and has supplied 500 powerbanks from the Malaysian Digital Economic Corporation.
— Bernama
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Darul Ehsan Islamic Foundation chairman Tan Sri Mazlan Mansor (front, right) presents a schooling contribution bag to a child victim of the Putra Heights gas pipeline fire at the temporary relief centre in Masjid Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, on April 4, 2025. — Picture by AHMAD ZAKKI JILAN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
