SHAH ALAM — The gas explosion that rocked Putra Heights in Subang Jaya on April 1 was not triggered by excavation works, nor did those activities damage the pipeline, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari told the State Assembly today.
Citing findings by police, the Department of Minerals and Geoscience, and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), Amirudin said there was no evidence to suggest that nearby groundworks led to the blast or subsequent fire.
“The construction of the 4.2-metre monsoon drain and the residential development in the area took place between 2008 and 2009, well before the One-Stop Centre was established in 2010,” he said during a briefing on the incident.
He also dismissed claims that the developer had conducted unauthorised construction near the Petronas Gas Berhad (PGB) pipeline reserve.
The company, he said, had obtained official approval and complied with all safety conditions set by Petronas before commencing works on March 20.
On suggestions that the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) had failed to observe the minimum buffer zone, Amirudin clarified that the required safety distance of 60 feet was in fact exceeded, with 66 feet of clearance maintained at the site.
Earlier, DOSH Petroleum Safety Division director Husdin Che Amat attributed the explosion to weak soil conditions beneath the pipeline.
He said that the pipeline itself met all technical specifications, but the ground supporting it was soft and waterlogged, which may have compromised its stability.
In a related update, Amirudin said rebuilding and repair works on damaged homes are progressing ahead of schedule.
According to the Economic Planning Unit’s assessments, three houses in Taman Putra Harmoni will be reconstructed, 46 will undergo repairs, while another 46 are still pending final structural inspection.
Meanwhile, in Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru, 11 of the 17 affected homes will be rebuilt, with six set for repairs.
So far, residents of Taman Putra Harmoni have submitted claims amounting to RM458,440.50, while those in Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru have filed claims totalling RM884,934.
Amirudin urged affected residents to submit all necessary documents by October 27, with MBSJ acting as the coordinating body.
He added that the state government would propose to the Housing and Local Government Ministry to raise the repair ceiling from RM30,000 to RM60,000 to accommodate costs such as roof tiles and the replacement of water tanks and fittings. — July 8, 2025