Petronas Gas pledges transparency, safety after Putra Heights pipeline failure
In a statement today, the gas infrastructure and utilities company said it acknowledges the findings released by the relevant authorities regarding the April 1, 2025, blaze in Putra Heights, Selangor.
Since the incident, PGB said it has mobilised substantial efforts to ensure public safety, support the affected community, and maintain a continuous gas supply nationwide.
'This incident is unprecedented in the history of our gas transmission system, and we fully recognise the public concerns about the safety of the pipeline system, especially regarding the continued flow of gas through the network,' it said.
The company said the Peninsular Gas Utilisation system is designed with multiple layers of safety and resilience, supported by over three decades of engineering and operational experience.
'Our systems and people are working continuously to ensure secure and reliable gas delivery to homes, industries, and the nation's power sector,' said PGB.
Yesterday, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) stated that the gas pipe involved in the Putra Heights inferno met all required technical specifications.
DOSH Petroleum Safety Division director Husdin Che Amat said that laboratory analysis revealed that the lower part of the pipe was not fully supported by the soil, which was soft and damp, thereby exerting pressure on the pipe's surface.
The weakened soil condition caused repeated cyclic loading, resulting in stress lines and fatigue striations on the pipe's surface, he told a special press conference announcing the investigation report yesterday.
'This resulted in physical failure of the pipe at the scene, causing a gas leak that ignited and led to the explosion.
'Metallographic analysis also showed that tensile overload was the primary cause of the failure, and that this damage developed gradually, leading to a ductile failure which released gas and ignited a fire,' Husdin added. — Bernama
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Malay Mail
10 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Time to reimagine our social housing — Ahmad Ibrahim
JULY 5 — It is true what they say — housing is a human right. Social media is replete with cases of homeless people. It is a global crisis. Even developed economies are not spared. Affordable housing is not just about providing shelter. It is about restoring dignity, nurturing communities, and offering people a fair shot at a better life. It has long been a cornerstone issue for urban poverty alleviation in Malaysia. The Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) was created with noble intentions: to house the urban poor and ensure that no one is left behind in the country's march towards progress. Yet, after decades, it is clear that the system needs more than just incremental tweaks. It requires a bold reimagination. Today, policies for affordable housing in Malaysia are mainly focused on the direct provision of social housing, where the government takes on the role of building and/or owning the bulk of housing units, subsidised housing (such as PR1MA), and subsidised financing schemes. There are also supportive regulatory measures such as inclusionary zoning, where local authorities issue development approvals conditional on having a segment of the proposed development set aside for the building of affordable homes. As introduced in the 11th Malaysia Plan, it is useful to categorise affordable housing measures by their intended target market — i.e. measures for households in the bottom 40 per cent by income or the B40, and measures for the middle 40 per cent of households by income or the M40. In terms of relative need, B40 households are especially vulnerable to the challenge of affording a roof over their heads, and many schemes are geared more towards rental rather than purchase, though purchase schemes are also selectively offered. Across Malaysia, many PPR flats tell a troubling story. Broken lifts, poorly maintained corridors, clogged sewage systems, and unsafe communal areas have become all too common. These are not just technical failures but reflect a deeper issue of how society perceives and treats its most vulnerable citizens. More worrying is the social stigma attached to PPR addresses. Residents of these flats often find themselves socially and economically segregated from the city's mainstream. Job opportunities, quality education, healthcare, and safe recreational spaces remain largely out of reach. The result is a vicious cycle of poverty and exclusion that no number of new housing blocks alone can solve. The good news is that Malaysia has the opportunity to fix this — if we are willing to be bold. Firstly, we must move beyond isolated housing projects to integrated, mixed-income communities. The idea is simple. When affordable units are built alongside market-rate homes, schools, shops, and parks, everyone benefits. Social divides narrow, stigma fades, and opportunities grow. Secondly, it is time to involve future residents in the design and management of their homes. Who better to tell us what works in a community than the people who will live there? Participatory planning and resident management committees can empower communities and foster a sense of ownership. Across Malaysia, many PPR flats tell a troubling story with broken lifts, poorly maintained corridors, and clogged sewage systems. — Picture by Nahrizul Adib Kadri We must also see social housing as more than just a roof over one's head. Urban farming plots, community workshops, vocational training centres, and local entrepreneurship hubs should be part of every PPR estate. Housing should be a platform for social mobility, not a dead end. Equally important is consolidating the maze of overlapping authorities that govern housing in Malaysia. A single, well-resourced urban housing council could coordinate policies, leverage data for smarter planning, and hold stakeholders accountable. Lastly, sustainability must be at the heart of the next generation of affordable housing. Energy-efficient designs, rooftop solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and green communal spaces are not luxuries. They are investments that lower costs for the poor and contribute to national climate goals. This is a moral imperative. How we house the most vulnerable among us says a great deal about the values we uphold as a society. As Malaysia aims to become a high-income, inclusive nation, reimagining social housing is not a side issue. It is a central test of our social conscience and policy maturity. The time for cosmetic fixes is over. We must be brave enough to rethink, rebuild, and reinvest in our urban poor. Only then can we build cities that truly leave no one behind. Reimagining social housing in Malaysia is not just about erecting more concrete blocks. It is about crafting urban spaces that restore dignity, enable upward mobility, and break cycles of poverty. Those house designers out there must come forward to offer designs and concepts. This is what nation-building is all about. As Malaysia aspires to become a high-income and inclusive nation, affordable housing must be seen as an investment in human capital and social cohesion — not merely a social welfare cost. * Prof Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim is affiliated with the Tan Sri Omar Centre for STI Policy Studies at UCSI University and is an associate fellow at the Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies, Universiti Malaya. ** This is the personal opinion of the writers or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Malay Mail
13 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Sun Wui Wui Koon in George Town: A provincial association for those from the same region in Guangdong, China
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Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Malay Mail
The Kwangtung and Tengchow Association in George Town: From managing cemeteries to keeping cultural heritage alive for more than 200 years
GEORGE TOWN, July 4 — Originally established to manage communal cemeteries for Chinese immigrants from Guangdong and Fujian provinces in China, the Kwangtung and Tengchow Association's beginnings here can be traced back to 1795. Today, the association is more than just an organisation that manages five large cemeteries. It actively organises cultural events to encourage more ethnic Chinese youths to take an interest in their cultural heritage. 'It is an umbrella body of 18 other organisations so our members consist of representatives from these organisations,' said association president Datuk Lio Chee Yeong. He said the association has 66 members on the board of directors consisting of members from these organisations. The 18 organisations are associations for the Hakka, Cantonese, Hainanese and Teochew from different areas of Guangdong and Fujian. 'Originally we had 19 member associations but one does not have any members to take over the leadership so it is no longer active,' he said. Getting young members to join and continue on the legacy of the associations is a tough challenge, he added. 'This is why we are now focused on organising more cultural events and activities to attract more new members to join our members' associations,' he said. 'We do not want more of these associations to become inactive or disappear.' They allocate annual funds to their member associations for general upkeep of their buildings and additional funds to hold activities such as for Cheng Beng and Hungry Ghost Festival. He said the association will be 230 years old this year and they have organised numerous talks and seminars on Chinese culture in collaboration with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR). 'We also organised some of these forums in English to attract Malaysian Chinese youths who don't read or speak Mandarin and at the same time for other races to attend and understand our culture,' he said. Aside from that, the association also organised other events such as the Best Char Koay Teow competition for hawkers recently and other cultural programmes. The association originally did not have its own office when it was first formed. 'Our records show that we received a site for an office at Penang Street in 1919,' he said. Representatives from the Guangdong General Goods Association had transferred ownership of four shoplots including number 50 Penang Street to the association. 'A building was only constructed in 1938 and it was completed in 1941,' he said. The building, an imposing structure, was built in an Art Deco architectural style with a fortress-like design and two towers flanking the entrance. It was designed by London-born architect Charles Geoffrey and its architectural style was according to the trend of most Art Deco buildings constructed in the early 20th century. 'Inside, we have a prayer hall dedicated to Lie Sheng Gong, Guan Yu and Confucius,' Lio said. Upstairs the conference room has been upgraded so now they can organise workshops and seminars at the office. Lio said the association continues to manage five cemeteries located at Mount Erskine and Teluk Bahang. 'We have plans to build a new columbarium in Mount Erskine due to high demand,' he said. The association office will be open for tours during the Historic Building Open House programme in conjunction with Penang heritage celebrations on July 7. Lio hopes this will cultivate an interest in the association and its many cultural and religious activities.
