Selangor MB urges public to help with probe into gas pipeline fire

Selangor MB urges public to help with probe into gas pipeline fire

Police are currently looking into whether digging near the site had led to the fire.

Smoke rising
Smoke rising from the gas pipeline fire at Putra Heights at about 2.30pm today. The fire was extinguished an hour later. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA:
Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari urged those with evidence of any wrongdoing that resulted in the gas pipeline blast in Putra Heights to come forward.

The call comes as the police probe claims that earthworks at the site may have triggered a gas pipeline fire that destroyed properties and injured scores of people.

“Anyone who has proof and information about any misconduct is urged to report it to the police,” Amirudin said in a statement.

The fire, which broke out early this morning at Jalan Putra Harmoni, raged for nearly eight hours before it was fully put out at 3.45 pm.

A total of 87 houses were completely damaged, while 148 were partially damaged. About 225 vehicles were also affected, with 174 of them slightly damaged.

Separately, Bernama quoted Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan as saying they were looking into allegations that earthworks carried out on Petronas reserve land may have damaged the gas pipeline, causing the fire.

“We will look into everything and if it is true, we want to know who carried it out.”

Hussein said the fire and rescue department and Petronas would inspect the affected areas to find out the exact cause, with investigations beginning tomorrow.

Earlier today, an Umno Youth leader claimed that residents in the vicinity had expressed concern over works being carried out at the site since December.

Citing sources, the wing’s Kota Raja division chief, Zaffarollah Nordin, claimed a backhoe was spotted operating at the site on the first day of Raya.

He later uploaded pictures of heavy vehicles, such as an excavator at the buffer zone.

Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram

Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.