KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 — More than 4,000 people, including volunteers and personnel from various agencies, have been mobilised in a mega cleanup operation in areas affected by the recent gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya.
Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari said the two-day operation, which covers Putra Heights and the neighbouring Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru, began today. It involves 600 volunteers and personnel from various government agencies and other institutions.
“A major part of our focus is currently on Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru, especially for cleanup works in public areas and residents’ homes that were affected. Cleanup in Putra Heights had started earlier after police granted access to the area,” he said during a press conference.
264 vehicles and machinery, including water jetter trucks, water tankers, Roll-On Roll-Off trucks, backhoe machines, road sweepers, wood chippers, and skylifts, are being used in the integrated operation carried out in collaboration with various parties.
So far, 307 homes have been cleared for reoccupation, and more are expected to be ready for residents soon after the cleaning process is completed.
“We will begin focusing on renting homes and repairing affected houses next week, based on the commitment we’ve received from the federal government,” Amirudin said.
Commenting on claims that more cleaning attention was given to the Putra Harmoni area compared to Kampung Melayu, he said that the cleanup could only begin in Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru after the police granted permission a few days ago.
“The housing structures in that area are also not as organised as those in standard housing estates developed according to specifications, so it requires additional effort and more time to carry out,” Amirudin said.
The Menteri Besar expressed appreciation for the strong spirit of cooperation shown by volunteers, especially Selangor's youths who were willing to lend a hand even during the festive season.
Meanwhile, during a safety briefing for volunteers, Subang Jaya district police chief ACP Wan Azlan Wan Mamat reminded all parties to adhere to the standard operating procedures set to ensure safety throughout the operation.
He said 100 police officers and personnel have been deployed to the surrounding area to secure the perimeter of the incident site, which has been declared a disaster zone.
“There have been no reports of property loss, and we want to maintain this record. All volunteers are strictly prohibited from entering Ground Zero or any house declared unsafe without authorisation,” Azlan said.
The gas pipeline fire, which occurred at around 8.10am on the second day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri (April 1) 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.
— Bernama
