By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, June 30 — The state government will set up a special committee to propose follow-up measures to prevent the recent Putra Heights gas pipeline explosion from recurring.
Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari said this at a special press conference to announce the findings into the disaster, adding that the committee will involve Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and other relevant agencies.
"These are among the follow-up actions that will be taken. The committee will review the findings and come up with proposals so that the incident does not happen again," he said today.
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Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari speaks during the special press conference on the April 1 Putra Heights gas pipeline explosion at the State Secretariat Building in Shah Alam on June 30, 2025. — Picture by NUR ADIBAH AHMAD IZAM/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Later, in a statement, Amirudin said the state government views the findings of investigations into the April 1 incident as a foundation for assessing risk in other similar areas.
"In view of this, a special committee will be established under the State Disaster Management Unit. This committee will present proposals for legal reforms, planning approval procedures, and development policies that take into account climate change risks, as well as all areas along the gas pipeline Right-of-Way alignment.
“This is important to ensure the safety of Putra Heights and the surrounding areas, so that such horrific incidents do not repeat," he said.
Earlier, during the press conference, Selangor Police Chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the police investigation had found no evidence of foul play, sabotage, or negligence in the events leading up to the pipeline explosion.
Instead, the Occupational Safety and Health Department’s (DOSH) Petroleum Safety Division director Husdin Che Amat said the explosion resulted from structural failure caused by environmental and geological factors. A forensic analysis had found that a stress line had formed across the diameter of the pipe.
“This was not something that developed in a day or two; it was caused by long-term underground pressure and soft soil conditions,” he said.
Investigators also observed signs of metal fatigue, with a fracture traced to the pipeline’s welding joint along the pipe, which could create friction and a subsequent spark that caused the explosion.
Husdin stressed that it was a gradual failure rather than any sudden or external impact.
The blaze and explosion destroyed 81 houses with structural damage exceeding 40 per cent, partially destroyed another 81, and affected 57 without fire damage.
Another 218 houses were unaffected, including those in Kampung Tengah, Puchong.
Firefighters took nearly eight hours to extinguish the blaze. The blast left a 9.8 metre-deep crater and damaged over 400 nearby homes.
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A car destroyed in the April 1 Putra Heights gas pipeline fire seen outside a partially damaged home on Jalan Putra Harmoni, Subang Jaya, on April 3, 2025. — Picture by BERNAMA[/caption]
