Ensuring gas pipeline safety

The Star

30-04-2025

Former United Nations principal security adviser and emergency management expert Muniandy Shanmugam.
PETALING JAYA: Meticulous planning and mapping of underground gas pipelines are a vital and proactive step to protect communities in the event of a leak or explosion similar to the Putra Heights mishap, says a global expert on security.
Former United Nations principal security adviser and emergency management expert Muniandy Shanmugam (pic) said pipelines should ideally avoid high-density residential zones, schools and hospitals.
He said if this is unavoidable, special designs and safety requirements should be considered.
'Routing decisions should be guided by risk mapping, environmental assessments and future urban development projections.
'The goal is to reduce potential human impact in the event of a leak and explosion.
'The pipelines should be regularly inspected and their presence be made known to nearby communities,' he said in an interview.
'There is no single solution that guarantees the safety of these pipelines.
'We need multiple and overlapping layers of protection to minimise any threat,' Muniandy said.
The former Malaysian police officer is a counter-terrorism specialist who has served in six war zones and headed UN security forces in high-risk missions during his two decade-long service.
Essential safety measures include smart sensors and leak detection systems to catch anoma­lies early; automatic shut-off valves to isolate compromised sections; and physical barriers or fencing at critical infrastructure points, he added.
Muniandy said the community should also be educated to be the eyes and ears of the authorities and report unusual or suspicious activity at gas pipelines.
'In war-torn countries, gas pipelines are often weaponised and targeted by terror cells.
'The security of gas pipelines should also be integrated into a broader national critical infrastructure protection strategy, including the counter-terrorism framework.
'This ensures that intelligence, threat assessment and emergency planning are streamlined across agencies and not siloed,' he said.
The safety of pipelines should also be the responsibility of local governments, emergency services and communities to ensure a unified response during emergencies, Muniandy added.
'Malaysia has competent agencies and first responders but there is always room to improve our preparedness. We need to be proactive and not reactive,' he noted.
Muniandy said gas pipeline operators should invest in advanced detection systems, routine security audits and being transparent with the public.
The scale and intensity of the Putra Heights gas blast on April 1 was alarming, especially since it occurred at a densely populated residential area, he said.
'Fortunately, despite the severity of the blast, no lives were lost.
'However, the case underscores the critical need for stringent safety standards, proactive risk assessments, compliance measures and rapid emergency response systems.
'Every pipeline buried underground should be matched with a safety protocol above ground and every community that lives near it should be well informed of its presence,' said Muniandy.
Just days after the Putra Heights explosion, residents of nearby USJ3 Subang Jaya also raised concerns over underground gas pipelines that run close to their homes and at least five schools.