PUTRA HEIGHTS FIRE: EXPERT URGES SAFETY REVIEW IN HIGH-RISK AREAS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 (Bernama) --  The major fire in Putra Heights, Selangor, on Tuesday underscores the urgent need to reassess the safety of urban development in high-risk areas, especially those near gas pipelines and flammable materials.

Senior lecturer at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Dr Gobi Krishna Sinniah, said the government should review high-risk areas and gazette utility reserves as the country's top risk zone.

“Although explosions rarely occur in residential and commercial areas, they remain a high-risk threat that requires immediate action from the relevant authorities, including the government.

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“Developments near corridors or routes of these gas pipelines will inevitably impact the public. Residential or high-density developments should have been identified as high-risk areas, and early preventive measures should also be reassessed,” he told Bernama.

He noted that similar fire incidents have occurred several times in Malaysia, such as in the Kerteh Industrial Area, Terengganu, last year, at an oil refinery in Pengerang, Johor (2022), and another in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan (2020), although these did not involve rapidly developing areas.

Therefore, Gobi Krishna believes that a review of residential and commercial development in utility reserve areas should be conducted, taking into account environmental and social factors, as well as a more in-depth risk assessment.

“The authorities need to look not only at the impact of development but also at what will happen to the utility if the development proceeds. I believe our perspective needs to shift in that direction,” he said.

He also recommended that the government define the boundaries of areas that could be affected in the event of an incident and establish buffer zones incorporating natural elements like rivers and forests for greater effectiveness.

“In this case, the development comes later along utility corridors, resulting in mitigation measures being limited to building fences as a barrier between the development and the utility,” he said.

He added that local authorities need to reassess the necessity of buffer zones in high-risk areas, as there is currently a lack of uniformity in the standards for such zones.

“Some local authorities set the distance at 40 feet (12 metres), while others have more or less. This inconsistency can affect the safety of the areas involved, particularly in terms of topography and geography. This matter needs to be examined in greater detail to ensure that buffer zones in utility areas are expanded,” he said.

Meanwhile, Institution of Engineers Malaysia president Prof Dr Jeffrey Chiang Choong Luin said the government and local authorities must also enhance awareness and training among developers, engineers, and contractors, particularly in the use of digital mapping technology and geographic information system (GIS) to identify and safeguard utility reserve areas.

“Local authorities must also ensure that every development application or excavation work near utilities undergoes a comprehensive safety impact assessment before approval. They should also increase the frequency of monitoring and safety audits at construction sites to ensure compliance with safety guidelines,” he said.

He said the institution is prepared to collaborate with stakeholders to promote safer and more sustainable infrastructure development in Malaysia.

The major fire that broke out at 8.10 am destroyed and damaged rows of houses and properties, including vehicles, within a 500-metre radius due to the intense heat. The explosion also left a massive crater, measuring 9.8 metres deep and approximately 21 by 24 metres wide. 

Hundreds of residents lost their homes and are still at temporary relief centres, while dozens who sustained burns are receiving treatment at medical facilities.

-- BERNAMA