KUALA LUMPUR: The massive fire in Putra Heights underscores the urgent need to reassess the safety of urban development in high-risk areas, especially those near gas pipelines and flammable materials, say experts.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Dr Gobi Krishna Sinniah said the government should review high-risk areas and gazette utility reserves as a 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.
“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,” said the senior lecturer at the Urban and Regional Planning Department, Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying.
He noted that similar fire incidents have occurred several times in Malaysia, such as in the Kerteh Industrial Area in Terengganu last year, an oil refinery in Pengerang, Johor (2022) and another in Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan (2020), although these did not involve rapidly developing areas.
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 told Bernama.
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 to identify and safeguard utility reserve areas.
“Local authorities must also ensure 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.
