SHAH ALAM, April 30 — The Selangor government announced today that the repair process for houses affected by the Putra Heights gas pipeline fire will commence tomorrow.
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said this process will hopefully be completed before the year ends.
“We will commence with fixes for houses that were affected by the gas pipeline fire this week,” he said during a handover ceremony for rental homes and fare subsidies for victims.
“For houses that need minor fixes, residents are to do the fixes on their own and can make claims for their expenses.”
Amirudin said homes categorised as total losses will be repaired using two methods: those in Putra Heights will be handled by developer Sime Darby Berhad, while those in Kampung Kuala Sungi Baru will be repaired by Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB).
He said while the Selangor state government had earlier announced a six-month rental contribution for residents, three months’ worth of the rental fee will be channelled first to residents for now.
The remaining sum will be distributed accordingly based on the need of respective residents.
As for affected residents who may need more aid after the six months is up, Amirudin said the Selangor state government will continue to this support until the entire recovery phase is completed.
“For those who need more than six month or up to a year, we will follow through the entire recovery process until it is completed,” he said.
Separately, Amirudin said police investigations under negligence and sabotage has ended, and the report will be ready in a week’s time to be revealed to the public.
As for technical investigation on the site, he said this will commence next as the ground is still unstable due to water retention from the rain.
“Roads will be reopened, except the road that is located at the gas pipeline fire site.
“As for the investigation report, once it is completed the state government will not just stop there, as we will appoint independent parties to evaluate the report to see what are future prevention steps that can be taken to avoid a repeat of this incident,” said Amirudin.
A general view of the site of the explosion and gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights on April 30, 2025. — Picture by Firdaus Latif.
What those affected are saying
When met at the Selangor State Secretariat building, affected resident Azidah Puteh Azil, 44 from Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru, while she is relieved to hear that the government will help with the reconstruction of her house that was burnt to the ground, she still has concerns regarding their rented vehicles.
“What we have lost in the fire is not entirely compensated, although we are grateful that we managed to receive one motorcycle from the government.
“But it still does not make up what we’ve lost — four motorcycles entirely burnt, two damaged cars and one damaged lorry.
“Before the fire, all our vehicles were functioning fine, now we are left with no vehicles functioning and the rented car will be collected by May 3, what will happen to us then?” she told Malay Mail.
According to Azidah, she is still suffering from trauma after the fire incident and is still finding it hard to cope with this as she carries on with her daily routine which involves driving.
During the fire, Azidah managed to flee to safety with her children in her car that had both windscreens smashed from the impact of the gas pipeline explosion.
For Nasır Hamid, 69, another Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru resident, he said there is no place like home and while the reconstruction will take some time for completion, he said he has accepted this reality.
“No point thinking in the past, what has happened, has happened, so now we just hope that our houses will be rebuilt and we can move back into homes as soon as possible.
“As for now, I’ve fixed up a small shed outside of my destroyed house, I’ve been sleeping there, I just feel more comfortable there than having to stay in a rented house that doesn’t have much space,” Nasır said when met by Malay Mail.
It was a peaceful morning for Nasır — just like every other morning, sipping coffee while tending to his plants — until the fire broke.
“I feel uneasy not being in my usual surrounding, at least here I can still drive around and do some gardening.
“So here’s hoping that reconstruction will be done smoothly so that we can move back to our homes,” he said.
