Probe into Putra Heights blast transparent and independent
He clarified that the state government was not directly involved in the probe but was merely one of 212 witnesses. The focus now shifts to a special committee tasked with reviewing the incident report and proposing preventive measures.
'The investigation was carried out completely independently, without any state government interference. Disputes over the findings do not mean the report is inaccurate,' Amirudin stated during a press conference after launching the Publicity and Public Participation Programme for the Sepang Municipal Council Draft Local Plan 2035.
The full investigation report will be made public once approved by the relevant authorities. 'Once permission is granted, anyone can review it to determine accountability,' he added.
Amirudin emphasised that the state government allowed the police full autonomy in their investigation, including summoning key witnesses such as developers, security personnel, and excavator operators. Police investigations found no evidence of negligence or foul play.
Earlier, Amirudin announced that Selangor would form a special committee to develop long-term strategies and propose new regulations to prevent similar incidents. The April 1 explosion severely damaged 81 homes, partially destroyed another 81, and affected 57 others, while 218 houses remained unharmed.
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The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
Earning trust by ensuring accountability
SELANGOR Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has dismissed calls for a new investigation into the Putra Heights gas pipeline fire. He has pledged 'no cover-ups' and announced a briefing for lawmakers today, stating the full report will be released once cleared. The MB has been quoted as saying: 'Those who are unhappy can review the report themselves and identify who was responsible. It provides a picture of the responsible parties.' From my perspective, for communities along Malaysia's 2,600km gas pipeline network, the core expectation is clear: We need the investigation report published ASAP, intact and made public online, directly identifying who is accountable. It is my firm view that the onus should be on the investigation team to outline responsibility without ambiguity, not to leave the public to piece together who is at fault. This is a fundamental public expectation for transparency and rebuilding trust. Key unanswered questions The intense blaze, attributed to unstable ground, prompts crucial inquiries into the performance of established safety protocols. Reports now point to unstable ground as a direct cause. Significantly, soon after the incident, on April 3, Petronas Gas Berhad (PGB) issued a statement reaffirming its 'unwavering commitment to public safety'. PGB specifically emphasised its adherence to international standards and robust asset integrity management programmes, highlighting its external monitoring efforts which include 'regular soil and slope movement monitoring by competent and qualified personnel'. Given PGB's explicit assurance about its capabilities in soil and slope movement monitoring, urgent questions persist for the public and I believe the report must definitively address them, especially concerning any potential shortcomings: Soil monitoring: Did PGB's advanced soil monitoring systems detect early warnings of instability in the area? If so, what immediate actions were taken to prevent the rupture? Did the system fail to detect, or were warnings missed? Timely shut-down (automatic vs manual): The fire burned for a prolonged period. Why? Automatic shut-off: Did automatic shut- off systems, like SCADA/PLDS, designed for rapid response to major leaks, activate as expected at the site or upstream or were there delays? Operational empowerment: Were operational teams on duty empowered to manually shut off the gas immediately as part of emergency protocol? Was there any delay in gathering decision-makers, potentially impacting response time? Buffer zone assumptions: This incident highlights what I see as a critical question: whether current pipeline 'buffer zones' – distances assumed safe based on automatic shut-off valves closing almost instantaneously – are truly adequate if gas flow is prolonged. Understanding how these safeguards performed and how human intervention played a role is vital for ensuring quick containment. Lessons from past disasters History, tragically exemplified by the 1988 Piper Alpha oil platform disaster where 167 lives were lost due to continued fuel flow, starkly shows the cost of delayed isolation. While circumstances differ, the principle remains that rapid and decisive action to cut off fuel is paramount. This event, in my opinion, underscores the urgent need to re-evaluate pipeline 'buffer zones' against real-world scenarios, not just ideal-case assumptions of instant shutoff. For communities living near these pipelines, confidence in infrastructure safety is paramount. I believe clear, understandable answers on how our crucial safety technology functioned and how human protocols were executed in preventing a prolonged fire are essential to building this confidence. Any lessons learned from this incident, including those pertaining to reinforcing and enhancing existing safeguards, must be openly shared. If the full report lacks clarity on these vital operational questions, I strongly advocate that a separate, independent review by neutral experts should be considered to ensure full public confidence. Our collective well-being is paramount. To uphold public trust and ensure the safety of all communities, I believe the complete findings of this investigation must be transparently revealed, outlining accountability and addressing all ambiguities. This includes conclusive evidence regarding the performance of soil monitoring systems, the timeliness of gas shut-off mechanisms and the roles of operational teams, leaving no room for speculation about potential negligence. Only through such comprehensive disclosure can confidence be restored and future incidents prevented.
Malay Mail
13 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Selangor assembly to debate Putra Heights gas blaze, says Speaker
SHAH ALAM, July 7 — The Putra Heights gas pipeline fire incident in Subang Jaya will be debated in the current sitting of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly, said Speaker Lau Weng San. He said the debate would take place after a special briefing to be delivered by Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari or his representative, following the tabling of the Selangor State Islamic Religious Administration (Amendment) Enactment Bill 2025 during this sitting. 'There will be (a debate); as I mentioned earlier, after the Menteri Besar meets with all assemblymen to provide a briefing in the afternoon. '... after that, the assembly will reconvene, and all of us will take part in the debate. The government will provide clarification on the matters raised (in the debate),' he said during the Selangor State Assembly sitting today. Earlier, Dr Afif Bahardin (PN-Taman Medan) submitted an appeal on behalf of 20 individuals affected by the April 1 blaze and explosion, requesting that the matter be discussed in the current sitting. Lau then disallowed the matter from being tabled as it was seen to overlap with an application already filed by Amirudin to present the matter during this sitting. 'I wish to stress that the main reason the appeal was disallowed is because there is already an application from the Menteri Besar to discuss this issue under this agenda, which will allow for greater participation from all assemblymen,' he said. The Selangor State Assembly sitting began today and will run until July 11. — Bernama
Barnama
14 hours ago
- Barnama
Selangor State Assembly To Debate Putra Heights Blaze
SHAH ALAM, July 7 (Bernama) -- The Putra Heights gas pipeline fire incident in Subang Jaya will be debated in the current sitting of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly, said Speaker Lau Weng San. He said the debate would take place after a special briefing to be delivered by Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari or his representative, following the tabling of the Selangor State Islamic Religious Administration (Amendment) Enactment Bill 2025 during this sitting. 'There will be (a debate); as I mentioned earlier, after the Menteri Besar meets with all assemblymen to provide a briefing in the afternoon. '… after that, the assembly will reconvene, and all of us will take part in the debate. The government will provide clarification on the matters raised (in the debate),' he said during the Selangor State Assembly sitting today. Earlier, Dr Afif Bahardin (PN-Taman Medan) submitted an appeal on behalf of 20 individuals affected by the April 1 blaze and explosion, requesting that the matter be discussed in the current sitting. Lau then disallowed the matter from being tabled as it was seen to overlap with an application already filed by Amirudin to present the matter during this sitting. 'I wish to stress that the main reason the appeal was disallowed is because there is already an application from the Menteri Besar to discuss this issue under this agenda, which will allow for greater participation from all assemblymen,' he said. The Selangor State Assembly sitting began today and will run until July 11. -- BERNAMA
