Spanning 2,675km, PBG pipelines supply gas to the power plants, industries and homes, among others. — 123rf
MALAYSIA’s hidden lifelines – 2,675km of high-pressure gas pipelines – run quietly beneath and alongside homes, highways, and industrial zones. As cities expand and development inches closer, the question grows urgent: how do we not only safeguard the pipelines, but more importantly, protect the people around them?
PETRONAS Gas Berhad (PGB), is reshaping pipeline safety by reframing it as a shared civic duty – built on community awareness, early involvement in urban planning, and close collaboration with local authorities.
The shift of emphasis from technical compliance to collective responsibility not only aims to reduce risks early but also reinforce a culture of vigilance across operators, authorities, and communities, says PGB managing director and CEO Abdul Aziz Othman.
On the ground, PGB's efforts include public awareness campaigns and town-hall sessions with communities living near pipeline rights-of-way, joint emergency drills with local authorities and strengthened communication channels for early risk reporting.
The company also deploys advanced monitoring systems to track conditions in real time. At the same time, PGB is working with councils and regulators to tighten development approvals and safeguard safety corridors from encroachment. Together, these measures aim to reduce risks early and reinforce a culture of vigilance across operators, authorities and communities.
"The responsibility cannot rest on operators alone. Pipeline safety requires active alignment between regulators, developers, councils and communities. Public vigilance – from reporting unusual activity to understanding the risks of encroachment – is critical in detecting threats early," says Abdul Aziz.
Abdul Aziz says the responsibility cannot rest on operators alone. Pipeline safety requires active alignment between regulators, developers, councils and communities. — PGB
> What specific safety measures are currently in place to protect Malaysia’s critical gas pipelines, especially those near residential areas and how often are safety inspections carried out?
The Peninsular Gas Utilisation (PGU) pipeline is a critical national asset, transporting natural gas from Kerteh [in Terengganu] to the northern, southern, and western regions of Peninsular Malaysia.
Spanning 2,675km, it supplies gas demand for the energy sector, for example, power plants, industries, and homes, and fuelling key economic clusters from Seremban to Shah Alam, Pengerang, Pasir Gudang, Prai, and Kulim.
As the licensed operator of the network, PGB adopts end-to-end safety and integrity frameworks that span from engineering design to real-time operational oversight.
PGB’s integrity management system leverages industry-standard inspection and monitoring technologies such as intelligent pigging [devices called “pigs” clean and inspect pipelines] for internal and external corrosion inspection, application and soundness of coating system, cathodic protection system effectiveness, top soil and slope monitoring for right-of-way [ROW] integrity, and a SCADA-based [supervisory control and data acquisition] platform for continuous, real-time surveillance.
Together, these systems provide multi-layered diagnostic insights which enable proactive identification of anomalies and support timely mitigation.
This approach reflects not only PGB’s operational rigour but also its long-term responsibility as a trusted steward of national energy infrastructure operator.
> What key factors guide PGB’s approach to pipeline design and route selection?
At PGB, safety is embedded from the earliest design stages to operations. Our gas transmission pipelines are constructed and maintained in full compliance with internationally recognised standards, specifically ASME B31.8/B31.4, B31.8S, API 1104 and NACE SP0169, as accepted by Malaysian regulatory authorities.
These standards govern design requirements, construction practices, inspection regimes and operational safety protocols to ensure structural soundness throughout the pipeline lifecycle.
During the design phase, the pipeline routes are selected with careful consideration of demand centres, topography, availability of other utilities suppliers, future use and population distribution.
This can be seen in how the PGU ROW was chosen to avoid the Titiwangsa Range, thereby mitigating risks associated with mountainous terrain. In addition, at the time the route was selected in the 1980s, the surrounding population near the ROW was minimal.
Upon finalisation of the ROW and as part of the design process, geotechnical and soil assessments are conducted.
Based on the findings of this assessment, appropriate line pipe selection, coating system selection and cathodic protection measures were designed accordingly.
> What steps does PGB take before a pipeline goes into operation and how do you ensure that it is well-maintained over time?
For added protection during operations, an overpressure protection system was incorporated to ensure the pipeline never operates above its safe design limits. All designs and testing of welding methods and parameters are submitted to the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) for regulatory approval, and Permit-to-Install (PTI) is obtained before construction begins. This is standard practice across our network.
Throughout the construction phase, we adhere to stringent quality controls. Non-destructive testing (NDT) is conducted on every weld joint and independently verified by a DOSH-approved third party.
External coatings and cathodic protection system are installed to protect the pipelines against external corrosion, while set-on weights and slab foundations are installed in areas of high buoyancy to stabilise the pipeline, in line with the design.
Before any pipeline becomes operational, a series of pre-commissioning tests is carried out. This includes caliper pigging to check for ovality or dents during construction, followed by hydrostatic pressure testing at 1.5 times the design pressure under the witness of DOSH, and thorough internal drying to prepare the pipeline for gas introduction.
Only upon successful completion of all safety tests - including those for associated equipment or facilities – will we proceed to apply for and secure the Permit-to-Operate (PTO) from DOSH. After gas introduction, it is standard practice to deploy intelligent pigging to scan for internal anomalies and establish a baseline for internal pipeline data.
This structured, multi-stage approach reflects our uncompromising commitment to public safety, pipeline integrity, and regulatory compliance – values we uphold across every kilometre of the 2,675km PGU network.
The Putra Heights incident highlighted previously unencountered risk factors, including underground soil movement and changes, demonstrating the potential hazards associated with such conditions, and served as a critical learning point for PGB.
In response, we are expanding our pipeline integrity approach to include enhanced subsurface surveillance and risk modelling capabilities to monitor soil instability, and to detect early signs of pipeline stress, strain and displacement. These enhancements mark a strategic shift towards predictive maintenance and proactive risk prevention, ensuring that hidden threats – like those encountered in Putra Heights – can be detected and addressed long before they pose any danger.
> What roles do different stakeholders, including pipeline operators, local community and general public play, in ensuring pipeline safety?
As Malaysia’s urban landscape rapidly expands, development is encroaching closer to critical infrastructure corridors, turning pipeline safety into both a technical and societal challenge.
As the licensed operator of the PGU, PGB maintains rigorous safety protocols, including continuous surveillance, integrity testing, corrosion protection, and real-time leak detection, often going beyond regulatory requirements.
However, many activities that can affect pipeline zones, such as construction, earthworks and drainage modification, take place outside PGB’s ROW and fall under the jurisdiction of local authorities.
While PGB provides technical feedback when consulted, the approval, monitoring and enforcement of such external works lie beyond its legal mandate, which underscores the importance of early coordination and strict adherence to safety requirements.
Ensuring pipeline safety, therefore requires active, aligned participation from operators, regulators, developers, local councils, and communities. Public vigilance and awareness, especially in reporting unusual activity or changes near pipeline zones, also play a vital role in early risk detection.
Ultimately, pipeline safety is not just an engineering obligation; it is a shared societal responsibility. Only through collective commitment, transparent engagement, and mutual trust can we move from reactive measures to a resilient, future-ready safety culture.
> As towns and cities continue to grow, how does PGB work with authorities, developers, and the public to keep pipelines safe?
Ensuring the safety of high-pressure gas pipelines in a rapidly developing landscape calls for clear accountability, structured collaboration and strong institutional partnerships. Each stakeholder plays a distinct yet interconnected role in safeguarding public safety and protecting critical infrastructure:
i. Licensed pipeline operator:
PGB is responsible in ensuring that all safety requirements under national laws are met without compromise. We adopt internationally recognised best practices in pipeline design, operation, and maintenance, with comprehensive measures such as real-time monitoring systems, routine inspections, and strict ROW surveillance. These protocols reflect PGB’s institutional duty to ensure the continued integrity of our infrastructure and the safety of communities living alongside it.
ii. Regulatory and local planning authorities:
Including municipal councils, the Energy Commission and DOSH, provide the oversight and enforcement framework critical to pipeline safety. Their role in approving development plans, issuing compliance conditions, and zoning enforcement is essential to ensuring that safety is integrated at the design and approval stage, well before construction begins.
iii. Developers and contractors:
As implementers of physical works on the ground, have a duty to comply with all safety requirements when operating near pipeline corridors. While PGB is often consulted to provide technical feedback or “ulasan” on such projects, we do not possess the legal authority to approve or reject external construction. This limitation underlines the need for more formalised coordination protocols, so that infrastructure custodians like PGB are brought into the process early and meaningfully to ensure risks are identified and mitigated from the outset.
iv. The public and local communities:
They play an invaluable role in the safety ecosystem. Signage and safety markers along the pipeline corridor help create awareness, but long-term resilience depends on fostering deeper community engagement. Residents are often the first to observe unusual activity or early signs of disturbance. When equipped with the right information, they become key allies in reporting issues early, helping prevent incidents before they escalate.
v. Emergency response agencies:
The Fire and Rescue Department and the Royal Malaysia Police, among others, are integral to crisis preparedness and response. Their swift mobilisation and coordination during emergencies, combined with regular joint exercises and simulation drills with PGB and communities, form the backbone of an effective, trusted emergency framework.
Together, this multi-layered collaboration across institutions, developers, communities, and operators strengthens Malaysia’s pipeline safety ecosystem – moving it beyond compliance towards proactive, shared responsibility.
Vital communications: A Gas Malaysia warning sign in Kuala Lumpur reminds the public not to carry out construction or excavation works near medium-pressure gas pipelines without approval. — The Star
> How is information on pipelines shared among different sectors to ensure rapid response and coordinated action during pipeline emergencies?
PGB recognises that an effective emergency response is not only about speed – it’s about precision, coordination, and preparedness. Central to this is a structured and secure communication ecosystem that links PGB with critical stakeholders, including local authorities, emergency responders, regulatory bodies, hospitals, and utility partners.
From the outset, PGB operates under a robust Emergency Response Protocol, designed to ensure swift and seamless coordination among all parties during any incident. We actively share detailed Geographic Information System (GIS) data, mapping out pipeline routes, critical infrastructure zones, and access points, with agencies such as Bomba, the police, local councils and civil defence forces.
These briefings are not one-off exercises; they are continuously updated, formalised through inter-agency engagements, and strengthened by collaborative simulation drills in high-density areas. These drills are crucial for refining response times, testing communication protocols, and ensuring everyone, from responders to recovery teams, knows their role.
Internally, our operations are anchored by a real-time SCADA system, monitored 24/7 through our Gas Control Centre. This system enables instant detection of anomalies, allowing our teams to isolate affected pipeline segments and immediately activate emergency deployment, minimising risk to communities.
As part of ongoing enhancements, PGB is also working to integrate public-facing alert mechanisms, such as emergency sirens, mobile SMS broadcasts, and loudspeaker systems to ensure affected communities receive timely warnings and instructions. These are designed to complement our on-ground and digital coordination efforts, ensuring that information reaches the right people at the right time.
Through this comprehensive, multi-tiered emergency readiness framework, PGB ensures that incident response is not just reactive, but anticipatory, data-driven, and community-focused.
At the heart of it all is a clear priority: to protect lives, uphold infrastructure integrity, and maintain public confidence through operational excellence, stakeholder trust, and transparent communication.
> With some pipeline risks being harder to spot below the surface, how is PGB improving its monitoring systems and working with local communities to stay prepared?
The findings of the recent investigation reaffirm what has always been central to PGB’s operational philosophy – that our pipelines are structurally sound, well-maintained, and rigorously monitored. We take pride in our proven track record of managing the pipelines integrity, maintaining ROW integrity, conducting routine surveillance, and ensuring safety at all pipeline crossings.
All surface-level risks are continuously assessed and addressed through systematic programmes. Beyond ROW surface surveillance, PGB is in the midst of enhancing the subsurface monitoring through geo-pigging and electromagnetic pipeline locator, as well as exploring the use of satellite imaging and infrared drones for deeper subsurface risk assessment.
This integrated, layered approach reflects our commitment to safety, engineering excellence, and proactive risk management, without compromising legal clarity on roles and responsibility.
In parallel with these technical efforts, PGB is also strengthening its public communication and emergency preparedness around the ROW.
This includes establishing approved evacuation and emergency routes, implementing a public notification system to alert nearby communities in the event of an emergency and conducting periodic drills to ensure readiness and coordination between PGB, local authorities and the public.
The incident in Putra Heights has revealed the unpredictable nature of deep subsurface changes, driven by anthropogenic activities that altered the original topography beyond our control or visibility. In response, we are now strengthening our systems further through enhanced subsurface monitoring, adoption of advanced technologies, and deeper inter-agency coordination.
These efforts are an expansion of a robust safety culture already in place. Importantly, based on the results of the Geopig and Electro-Magnetic Locator (EML) inspections conducted across more than 90% of the PGU system, no other locations have exhibited similar subsoil risks – reaffirming that the network remains structurally sound and safe for continued operations.
PGB remains fully committed to continuous improvement, acting on lessons learned and upholding the highest standards of safety for the communities we serve.
