By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, April 11 — The recent gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights should not deter investment in Malaysia’s energy sector, said state executive councillor for investment, trade, and mobility Ng Sze Han.
He said the explosion was an “isolated case” and did not reflect any systemic flaws in the nation’s energy infrastructure.
“This is an isolated case that has never happened before. We have learned a hard lesson from it, and there are now many precautions that require special attention,” Ng told the press on the sidelines of the Brazil x Malaysia Bilateral Semiconductor Development Programme at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel yesterday.
[caption id="attachment_396930" align="alignright" width="429"]
State executive councillor for investment, trade, and mobility Ng Sze Han delivers his speech during the Brazil x Malaysia Bilateral Semiconductor Industry Development programme at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Puchong on April 10, 2025. — Picture by HARUN TAJUDIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
He assured that new safety measures and updated guidelines would be implemented to prevent similar incidents from occurring.
“Gas pipelines are standard infrastructure globally, not just in Malaysia. This main pipeline runs from Kerteh to Johor Bahru and onward to southern Thailand. It forms a vital part of our national energy network,” Ng said.
The explosion, which occurred in a residential neighbourhood in Putra Heights on April 1, prompted scrutiny from both the public and industry stakeholders over the safety of energy infrastructure.
The councillor also emphasised that Malaysia and, by extension, Selangor remain competitive and secure destinations for energy-related investments.
“The key now is to improve safety guidelines while ensuring continuity of supply. We are taking this matter very seriously,” he said.
The authorities have since launched a full investigation into the incident, with updates expected in the coming weeks.
In a related development, Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari confirmed that a road located 30 metres from the explosion site, managed by the Subang Jaya City Council, has been closed to facilitate the investigation.
“We recorded 613 family registrations related to the incident, but after the verification process, 469 household heads or members were confirmed eligible to receive either RM10,000 or RM5,000,” he said during a press conference at the State Secretariat Building on Tuesday (April 7).
As of Monday, 219 recipients had received their aid, and the remaining 250 are expected to receive theirs by the end of the week.
Yesterday, Amirudin announced that 81 homeowners whose houses were completely destroyed in the incident would receive RM10,000 in immediate financial assistance, comprising RM5,000 from the Federal government and another RM5,000 from Petronas Gas Bhd. Homeowners with partial damage and tenants are also receiving RM5,000 each.
Additionally, residents who lost or had their land title documents damaged in the fire may begin applying for replacements starting next week.
The explosion, which occurred at around 8.10am on the second day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, sent flames more than 30 metres into the sky. Temperatures reportedly reached up to 1,000°C, and the fire took nearly eight hours to be fully extinguished.
The incident resulted in the complete destruction of 81 houses with structural damage exceeding 40 per cent, while another 81 were partially destroyed.
Fifty-seven homes sustained damage without catching fire, and 218 homes remained unaffected.
