KUALA LUMPUR — Over a month has passed since the underground gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, on April 1, which caused extensive damage.
With over 227 houses and 365 vehicles affected – and 87 homes reportedly written off as total losses – the victims now face a long and complex journey toward disaster recovery and compensation.
Reflecting on the lessons learned from the disaster, experts highlight the need for better insurance coverage and greater public awareness of personal and property protection.
They also stress the importance of accurate underground utility mapping in Malaysia, as well as better urban planning, and more rigorous monitoring of soil movements and pollutant concentrations near gas infrastructure and other high-risk areas.
MORE RESILIENT LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Taylor’s University School of Law and Governance senior lecturer Dr Wilson Tay Tze Vern said the recent disaster exposed critical gaps in Malaysia’s legal and insurance systems when it comes to disaster recovery.
(In a physical or community context, disaster recovery refers to the process of rebuilding, restoring and supporting affected individuals and infrastructure after a disaster.)
“It is commonly assumed that homeowners can claim compensation through fire insurance. However, this is only possible if adequate coverage was purchased in advance,” he told Bernama.
He said while fire insurance is usually required for mortgaged properties, many fully paid or older homes may be underinsured or not insured at all, leaving homeowners to bear the full brunt of the loss.
“Even where coverage exists, it often applies only to structural damage and fixed fittings.
“High-value movable items like laptops and mobile phones are usually excluded. Sentimental items are irreplaceable and long-term depreciation in property value due to adverse publicity is also not covered,” he said.
Tay said vehicle owners with basic third-party insurance – common among owners of older cars, motorcycles or commercial vehicles – are unlikely to receive compensation for fire-related damage, adding to the number of uncompensated victims.
Pointing to the suspension of gas transmission following the Putra Heights explosion, he said it disrupted operations at an estimated 200 factories, including food manufacturing and metal processing facilities.
“These represent ‘pure economic loss’ – financial damage not caused by direct physical harm but as a ripple effect,” he said, adding under current Malaysian legislation, such losses are generally non-recoverable.
“It highlights a pressing legal gap that fails to reflect the economic interdependencies of modern industrial zones.”
Tay, meanwhile, explained that the licensed gas transporter is responsible for the safety and maintenance of gas pipelines under the Gas Supply Regulations 1997, alongside other statutes including the Gas Supply Act 1993 (amended in 2016), Energy Commission Act 2001 and Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974.
“To date, there has been no indication of whether the pipeline owner breached any of these obligations,” he said, adding legal responsibility cannot be determined until investigations are completed.
He said even if negligence is established, it remains unclear whether the responsible party has sufficient financial or insurance capacity to provide compensation.
“This underlines the need for mandatory liability insurance and stricter regulatory oversight for high-risk works near critical infrastructure.
“Strengthening legal protections, closing insurance loopholes and ensuring accountability are essential to protecting lives and livelihoods, and ensuring economic resilience,” he added.
SOIL MOVEMENT
Climate policy expert Dr Gary Theseira, meanwhile, called for systematic soil monitoring in areas undergoing development.
He said any development project must take soil movement monitoring more seriously to prevent infrastructure failures such as gas pipeline leaks and landslides.
“In general, we are not monitoring soil movement as much as we should. If we were, we wouldn’t be seeing fatal landslides or a leaking pipeline,” he told Bernama, adding many underground pipe failures are caused by stress due to subtle shifts in the soil.
“Even small soil movements can exert significant pressure on pipelines. The pipe stretches under stress, and eventually, it cracks or breaks.”
He said all critical underground utilities, including fibre optic cables, sewer lines, water pipes, electrical conduits and gas lines, should undergo regular assessment and monitoring.
“With the availability of newer technologies to detect ground movement, it is essential to integrate these tools into urban planning and construction, especially in high-risk areas previously affected (by a leaking pipeline or landslide),” he added.
Innoveam Sdn Bhd – which assists in conducting safety studies and equipment design in the oil and gas industry – managing director and analyst Muhammad Zamir Abd Rashid said in the case of the Putra Heights incident, soil movements beneath the surface may have compromised the gas pipeline’s structural support, causing it to fail and rupture.
He said any development or construction should respect pipeline buffer zones by refraining from building or digging near them.
“Local authorities and enforcement agencies must also update their safety plans frequently, as well as study incidents (like the Putra Heights explosion) to improve future risk assessments and emergency responses,” he said.
He also called for the installation of smart sensors that detect gas leaks early and automatic shutdown valves in areas where housing developments are located near gas pipelines.
HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Department of Earth Sciences and Environment senior lecturer Dr Mohd Shahrul Mohd Nadzir recommended the use of affordable sensor technology GIS (geographical information system)-based hazard mapping to monitor pollutant concentrations and guide urban planning around gas infrastructure.
“Incorporating IoT (Internet of Things)-based gas leak detection and real-time air quality dashboards would serve as early warning systems,” he told Bernama.
He also warned that gas pipeline explosions pose significant health and environmental risks due to the release of toxic pollutants.
While methane – the primary component of natural gas transported in pipelines – itself is non-toxic, it is a highly flammable and potent greenhouse gas, which is 86 times stronger than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, he said.
“When mixed with other materials during combustion, methane can produce hazardous compounds like dioxins, hydrogen cyanide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which can contribute to respiratory problems, especially among children, the elderly and individuals with pre-existing conditions,” he said.
Referring to the Putra Heights incident, Mohd Shahrul said the explosion and ensuing fire likely emitted fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and dangerous volatile organic compounds, such as formaldehyde and benzene, as a result of burning plastics, household materials and vehicles.
He added while the acute toxicity levels in the area may have appeared within safe limits post-incident, there is a need for a comprehensive health risk assessment to evaluate long-term exposure risks. — BERNAMA
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