KUALA LUMPUR: A underground gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights last Tuesday could leave Malaysia grappling with losses topping RM1 billion — and distraught residents demanding answers: Who’s footing the bill?
Over 250 homeowners in the upscale Subang neighborhood now face a nightmare. Their once-pristine properties, bought for RM500,000 to RM1 million each, lie damaged by a fiery inferno that hit 1,000°C. Cars melted. Wiring fried. Even sewage systems buckled under the heat.
Homes “Uninhabitable” After 1,000°C Inferno
“Rebuilding isn’t enough — the entire area might need bulldozing,” warns Prof. Emeritus Barjoyai Bardai of Unirazak. He estimates losses could spiral from destroyed furniture, appliances, and collapsed property values. “This wasn’t a natural disaster. Someone failed technically, and now families pay the price.”
The blast, contained by firefighters within seven hours, exposed gaping holes in Malaysia’s mega-project safety protocols. The ruptured pipeline was part of a 1,400km network — installed without proper buffer zones or real-time monitoring, critics argue.
Rebuild or Relocate?
Residents want full compensation, but confusion reigns. “Why should we suffer for corporate negligence?” fumes a homeowner, whose Mercedes now resembles charred scrap. Experts like Bardai insist developers or insurers must cover 100% of home values, plus repairs.
Yet, doubts linger. With underground wiring and pipes “beyond salvage,” rebuilding costs could skyrocket. Some fear the government might force relocations, stripping owners of their neighborhoods.
A Wake-Up Call for Mega Projects
The incident has ignited calls for stricter safety measures, especially for flammable infrastructure. “No more cutting corners,” Bardai stresses, urging buffer zones and 24/7 monitoring for gas, oil, and power projects.
Meanwhile, Putra Heights residents remain in limbo — their lives reduced to ash and uncertainty. “We trusted the system,” says a mother of two, “Now we’re left picking up the pieces.”
