SHAH ALAM: Victims of the Putra Heights gas pipeline blast have been urged to register themselves with the Welfare Department at the temporary relief centres (PPS) by Sunday (April 6).
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari told a press conference at the state secretariat that registration would close on Sunday afternoon.
“The registration will be closed Sunday afternoon to facilitate the streamlining of information and data by the Fire Department, Welfare Department as well as the land and district offices, to be compared with the list of houses that have been identified," said Amirudin.
He explained that a slight problem had cropped up as some of the houses that have been rented out had multiple separate tenants.
“That will be given consideration, and now we have an additional category, which is the rented premises category.
“Hence, we have the total loss, affected and rental categories," said Amirudin, adding that homeowners of the total loss category will receive RM5,000 each, whilst those in the affected and rental categories will receive RM2,500 each.
He said the disbursement of funds was expected to start on Monday and be completed within the week.
According to the Mentri Besar, 130 residents have been allowed to return to the 235 houses identified as being safe.
Amirudin said most of the houses deemed safe were in Taman Putra Harmoni as opposed to Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru, as the latter was still considered unsafe based on reports by the Fire and Safety Department and Tenaga Nasional.
“Hence, I would like to remind those not permitted to return to not go back to their houses as there isn’t a guarantee for their safety.
“I will also be tightening security at these locations, and those wanting to go back to retrieve important documents can only do so if accompanied (by officers of the relevant authorities),” said Amirudin, adding this was to prevent untoward incidents from happening.
He narrated how a resident had returned to his home at Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru on his own accord and had to be treated at the PPS for discomfort upon his return there.
It was then discovered that the man’s house was located in an area where returning was prohibited.
On another matter, Amirudin clarified his statement regarding an excavator that was buried in the explosion at the disaster site.
Amirudin added that what he had said had been twisted out of context to make him look bad and said he had nothing to hide.
The Mentri Besar had initially said there was no excavator at the site when he first visited soon after the blast had occurred.
However, Amirudin later said there was indeed an excavator buried at the site following findings by the investigating team.
He had added his statement, that there was an excavator at the site, which was based on information relayed to him by Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, who is leading the investigations.
Amirudin also said that when he made the first statement, he did not want to make the conclusion that an excavator was buried there as the onus to do so was on the Selangor police chief, who is the chief investigator.
"But the allegation is that Amir is trying to protect the contractor," he lambasted.
Amirudin gave the assurance that the investigating team would be impartial and would carry out its job without fear or favour.
"My instructions are clear that the investigating team must conduct a comprehensive probe," he said.
"That is why I asked the public to share any information or videos they had, in addition to saying that we would investigate and find where the excavator was.
"There was no issue of me trying to deny the presence of activity there or to protect anyone as alleged by some on social media," said Amirudin.
He had explained the matter repeatedly due to the persistent allegations, he said, before adding sarcastically that "I believe the attacks will continue until doomsday".
On Friday, Comm Hussein revealed that following an early police probe, an excavator was believed to be buried in the crater caused by the gas pipeline explosion in the area.
He said heavy excavation work was carried out by a contractor just 30m from the location of the April 1 incident.
PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari had mocked Amirudin and accused him of "denying" the presence of the excavator.
