Putra Heights Tragedy: Residents Have Moved Forward Despite Occasionally Reliving Trauma

By Abdul Rahman Fahmi Abdul Aziz

KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- A year has passed, but the gas explosion tragedy in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, remains etched in the memory of the residents.

The incident that shocked the nation on the 2nd of Syawal last year not only robbed the joy of Hari Raya Aidilfitri from that community but also changed the landscape of Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru in an instant due to a loud explosion that residents initially thought was a bomb blast or a plane crash.

A Bernama survey found that although the physical scars of the tragedy are still visible, the residents moved forward with a renewed spirit, even though the shadows of the incident occasionally "reappear" in their minds.

Maahad Tahfiz Vokasional Aman Bistari founder Mohd Asri Yunus, 59, said that although the trauma has not completely gone, he is grateful for the concern and assistance shown by various parties.

"Alhamdulillah, I am very grateful to the Prime Minister's Department, PETRONAS, the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ), and most importantly, the local community, friends, and mosque authorities who extended a helping hand. Thanks to their support, we can stand again," he told Bernama.

Mohd Asri acknowledged that the enrolment of students at the tahfiz centre was slightly affected due to parents' concerns about safety since the incident.

For married couple Mohamad Nasir Abd Hamid, 70, and Aliyah Ismail, 56, the unexpected incident will forever be remembered, especially since their house was destroyed.

Mohamad Nasir, however, is grateful because he now has a new home fully built by the Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB) although it is unable to compare to his previous home.

"Everything went smoothly, thank God. At first, there was a worry that this house might not be completed, but the contractor's work was very fast, and the building materials used were also of high quality," he said.

Meanwhile, Aliyah could not hide her emotions when she remembered the house built on her in-laws' ancestral land of 0.4 hectares.

Although she feels sad every time she remembers the loss of her belongings in the blink of an eye, accepting things and the help she received became the most effective balm for her wounds.

On April 1, 2026, a massive fire broke out at a PETRONAS gas pipeline at 8.10 am. Flames reached heights of over 30 metres, with temperatures soaring to 1,000 degrees Celsius, resulting in 81 houses destroyed, 81 partially destroyed and 57 others affected.

Meanwhile, Petronas Gas Berhad (PGB) has disbursed over RM 2.7 million in cash and medical aid since last year's incident, while also channelling RM 25 million through the Finance Ministry and Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) to repair homes in Putra Heights and Kampung Tengah.

PGB has launched the 'TENANG' programme to support mental health in collaboration with Putrajaya Hospital and the 'Naluri' app, while also conducting the 'AnA' (Awareness and Action) tour to engage communities living near gas pipelines.

-- BERNAMA