'Putra Heights report lacks details of other high-risk areas, causes public worry'

Summary

• MCA veep Lawrence Low says the Putra Heights fire report lacks details of other high-risk areas despite revealing that similar conditions exist along 2,680km of pipelines nationwide.

• He says the omission would only deepen public fear.

• Low proposes several solutions for the govt and Petronas’ consideration.

MCA has voiced concerns over the final report on the Putra Heights gas pipeline explosion, saying it did not mention other high-risk areas despite revealing that similar conditions exist along 2,680km of pipelines nationwide.

“Petronas’ report identified causes such as geological subsidence, poor soil support, and structural fatigue, and also revealed that similar conditions exist along 2,680km of pipelines nationwide.

“What it did not provide was a clear assessment of which areas, including USJ, are at the highest risk. This omission only deepens public anxiety, and the report’s shortcomings are glaring,” said MCA vice-president Lawrence Low in a statement today.

On Monday, the Occupational Safety and Health Department (Dosh) Petroleum Safety Division director Husdin Che Amat announced that the pipe involved was not fully supported by the soil around it due to cyclic loading, causing a weakness in the welded joint that broke apart and started the fire.

At the same press conference, Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan confirmed that no elements of sabotage or negligence were found, and police have classified the case as no further action.

People’s safety

On that note, Low said the report’s failure to declare the high-risk areas would leave residents oblivious to the safety of the place they are occupying.

He added that the report also lacks essential technical data such as soil conditions, ground movement measurements, and pressure anomalies - raising doubts about how thorough the investigations were.

“Third, it ignores the impact of the surrounding development works on pipeline stability, a critical factor in mature townships like USJ.

“Finally, there were no mentions of any early warning systems, or missed red flags that may have been detected prior to the Putra Heights incident,” Low added.

The MCA leader proposed several solutions to the government and Petronas to address the matter:

1. Conduct a Selangor gas pipeline health audit and inspect high-risk areas like USJ and publicly share findings.

2. Establish a resident inquiry platform and hotline to allow residents to check pipeline proximity and risk levels.

3. Implement regular community safety briefings and drills.

4. Deploy smart monitoring systems along pipelines - monitor pipelines in real-time with emergency alerts.

5. Create a community safety fund to support at-risk residents with relocation, repairs, and emergency aid.

Low said that the public’s fear stems from the real possibility that another ticking time bomb lies beneath their feet, and MCA is committed to resolving the matter.

“As Selangor MCA chairperson, we will continue pressing for accountability. Townhall sessions with residents are being planned, and a white paper will be submitted to the Energy Commission to demand a full legislative review of pipeline safety standards in Selangor.”

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