Residents met by FMT at the incident control post here said while the extent of their losses was not immediately known, they expect the RM5,000 to fall far short of what they need.

Jali Masari, 26, who has lived in the area since 2014, said although he appreciates the government’s assistance, the amount is inadequate.

“We haven’t been able to go inside yet, so we don’t even know what has been destroyed. But RM5,000 is definitely not enough,” he said, expressing hope that incoming additional aid would be higher.

Jali also urged the government to simplify the claims process to ease the burden of residents. “I hope they make it easier for us to claim what we need instead of making it complicated.”

Another resident who introduced himself as Steven said the financial assistance of RM5,000 per home and RM2,500 for every victim would only be sufficient as a form of temporary aid.

“Even houses that weren’t burned have sustained damage exceeding RM5,000. If this aid is meant for temporary relief, maybe it will be sufficient, but if it’s for everything, it’s definitely not enough.”

Like many other victims, Steven also wanted answers on how the blaze had occurred. He said the gas pipeline had been there for decades with no issues arising.

Selvam Sannacy, a Putra Heights resident of 15 years, acknowledged the government’s assistance but raised the need for immediate support in other ways.

“Right now, we need access to our homes to retrieve important documents, medication, and essentials,” he said, adding that the families were in urgent need of temporary housing.

“I’ve been staying at the hospital to take care of my child, but after this, I’ll have to move to a relative’s house in Puchong. I don’t know how long we’ll have to wait before we can return.”

The fire, which broke out yesterday morning along Jalan Putra Harmoni, engulfed a 500m section of the gas pipeline, causing severe damage to homes and vehicles.

Earlier today, police said 235 premises in total were affected by the fire, with 87 completely burnt and 148 damaged.

Bernama reported that the victims were appealing for temporary housing to tide them over until it is safe to return home.

Putra Harmoni Residents’ Association deputy chairman Francis Koh said some victims were staying in hotels, which is costly in the long run.

“Therefore, we sincerely hope the state government can provide us with temporary housing during this difficult period,” he was quoted as saying.

The association’s committee member, Woo Wan Heng, hopes for more than just financial aid. He wants assistance with insurance claims and other forms of government support.

“The losses are significant. It’s not just that our homes are unliveable — our cars were also damaged.

“We can’t send our children to school or go to work due to these challenges,” he said.