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Putra Heights Petronas disaster victim: We want a comprehensive solution … not just a repair
KUALA LUMPUR, April 4, 2025: The man (authority/ies)-made Petronas underground gas pipelines disaster damaged or destroyed 235 houses in Putra Heights on Tuesday.
The explosions and fires at about 8.30am rocked Jalan Putra Harmoni, engulfed a 500m section of the gas pipeline, causing severe damage to homes and vehicles.
The fires razed 87 houses and gutted 148 others. Some 400 vehicles were also affected, with 225 destroyed and 174 damaged.
As of 10pm yesterday, one victim remained in intensive care while 47 others were still being treated in hospital.
And, this was found shared on WhatsApp:
am a Victim” – XXXXXXXX
The explosion of the Petronas gas pipeline in Putra Heights on 1 April 2025 (near the Amber & Topaz area) has shocked the entire nation. Malaysians were shocked by the fact that this high-risk pipeline has been located so close to residential areas for almost five years.
After the incident, the Mayor of Subang Jaya announced that the project had received planning permission (KM). However, after the KM was obtained, the responsibility of building infrastructure such as water, electricity, roads, drainage and so on rests with the project contractor and consultant. Usually, utility connections are made to the nearest existing route.
The problem is, this development is small — only involving 10 shop units on a small plot of land adjacent to the Petronas gas pipeline. To connect the utilities to the residential area near Topaz, the contractor has to cross the Petronas reserve.
I personally saw this connection work being done by open excavation. In the past two months, this road area has been dredged many times for water and TNB connections. The last time I witnessed it myself was on 31 March 2025, while on my way to the KLCC Book Fair to launch my children's poetry book. An excavator was working right on the Petronas reserve — and only stopped briefly to give way to me.
As someone with 28 years of experience in the water, sewage and sewerage sector, I know that any work on Petronas pipelines needs to avoid the area or be built on steel structures such as bridges to avoid any impact on the pipes. My friend told me that even for road excavation, various documents and protection studies need to be sent to Petronas.
So the question is: these safety procedures — were they followed or not?
After the incident, everyone came — the PM came, the state EXCO came, the ADUN came, even the Raja Muda came. They promised this and that… and then disappeared. There was no victim form, no registration procedure, no official guidance on what to do.
All we asked for was one thing: permission to enter the house for a moment, to save important items. But we waited — and kept waiting.
The KPKT said it would hold a meeting on April 4 — 3 days after the incident occurred on April Fool's Day. We know, the housing work is under the KPKT, under Minister Nga Kor Ming. We don't want political sympathy. We want a clear national procedure, step by step, when a tragedy like this happens.
I believe PADMA (the planning agency) has complete procedures — but why is no one implementing them?
In terms of law, the Petronas-related work is subject to:
• Petroleum Development Act 1974
• Petroleum Safety Measures Act 1984
• Gas Supply Act 1993
I hope the lawyers can check and make sure that the safety procedures and responsibilities are being followed. The people also have the right to understand the law — so that we know our rights.
This is not just an "accident." This is an industrial disaster. Just like the gas explosion in Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 2014.
In America, after the 9/11 tragedy, they built a memorial park at "ground zero" for the people and future generations to learn from their mistakes. Petronas should buy back the damaged houses, and build a memorial park to make this the starting point of a “Safety First” culture.
If this issue is not handled properly, it will become a national image crisis. Residents from Melaka to Perlis who live near the Petronas pipeline will start questioning the level of safety. Even the TNB cables that run through their homes will start to become an issue.
Last year we had a collapsed sewage pipe in KL. This year, a “detonation” of a gas pipe in Putra Heights (I use “detonation” because it is not a normal explosion). What will happen next?
I am no longer a writer or an outside observer. I am a victim. I saw the flames rising into the sky — like a volcano. We only had a few minutes to escape. The temperature was so high, all the plastic and cars melted like ice cream.
Can these houses be repaired?
The electrical cables, water pipes, concrete structures — all were exposed to extreme heat for more than 6 hours. The structure may be bent, internal cracks, insulation materials melted. MBSJ said it would investigate the structure. But are there any certified engineers involved?
If the government fails to address this issue comprehensively, the anger of the people will spread. More people will start to rise up and ask: is this pipeline safe?
I hope the Prime Minister and Petronas can see this issue from the people's perspective.
We don't want to just patch the hole.
We want a comprehensive solution. Not just a repair.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below a picture gallery of the disaster by MalaysiaNow:
Gallery
In pictures: A tale of fire and loss
Over 500 residents from Putra Heights in Subang Jaya and the surrounding area were forced to move to temporary relief centres due to the huge blast which left many homeless.
Photographs by MalaysiaNow
April 4, 2025 12:31 PM
The huge fireball that erupted on the morning of April 1 due to a leak in an underground gas pipeline in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya.
The blaze ripped through housing areas in the vicinity, damaging and destroying hundreds of homes and vehicles, and leaving behind a crater 32 feet deep and 70 x 80 feet wide.
Over 500 residents were evacuated to temporary relief centres while many others were hospitalised due to burns and respiratory troubles.
A firefighter sprays water on a house gutted by the huge blaze. Hundreds of personnel from 11 agencies were involved in the efforts to extinguish the fire and rescue the residents.
Many residents lost their homes and everything in them.
Others suffered less extensive losses but will still struggle to put their lives back together.
Mohmad Johar Misri, who lives in Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru, Puchong, suffered second degree burns to his shoulders and legs while fleeing his home.
Roofs were torn from houses, and even the trees and greenery in the area were not spared.
Evacuees fill the relief centre at the Putra Heights Mosque, which took in 485 victims from 110 families.
An elderly woman sits in a wheelchair outside the orange tent which is her only home at the moment.
Other residents sort through piles of clothing donated by members of the public. Many of them fled their homes with only the clothes on their backs in their haste to escape the blaze which occurred on the second day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Still others receive treatment for minor injuries as they struggle to come to terms with the incident.
Salawati Zakaria was in her hometown of Sungkai, Perak, when the blast occurred. She and her family hurried back after receiving a call from a neighbour who told them that their car and rented house had been destroyed.
Selangor crown prince Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah (left) visits the family of Mohd Nasir Abdul Hamid, who also lost their home in the blaze.
Nabila Johar, who suffered burns on her arms, arranges her possessions in her tent.
A family gathers in their temporary home to mark the third day of Hari Raya.
A few containers of Hari Raya snacks are all that this family has to remind them of the occasion.
Malaysia
Gas pipeline fire: All aid efforts must be coordinated with S’gor MB, Petronas, says PM
In a statement today, the Prime Minister’s Office said this will ensure a swift and organised response to the incident.
Updated 1 hour ago · Published on 04 Apr 2025 7:28PM
The statement also said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is closely monitoring developments - April 4, 2025
ALL assistance and coordination efforts regarding the Putra Heights pipeline gas explosion must be directly coordinated with Selangor Menteri Besar and Petronas.
In a statement today, the Prime Minister’s Office said this will ensure a swift and organised response to the incident.
"All efforts must be coordinated through Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Petronas president and group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Kamadjaja Aziz.
"Close cooperation between the federal government, state government and the industrial sector is crucial in addressing this situation promptly and comprehensively," it said in a statement today.
The statement also said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is closely monitoring developments and has pledged full support for recovery and safety efforts. – April 4, 2025
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