Putra Heights inferno: Dr M urges public to stop finger-pointing, speculating

KUALA LUMPUR: There should not be any unnecessary finger-pointing over the gas pipeline explosion and fire in Putra Heights, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former prime minister said the matter must be studied thoroughly while also expressing displeasure at speculations.

“We don’t know just yet and can’t go around accusing people. We have to investigate.

“If we find evidence, we can say who is responsible, but I do not like speculation and blaming people.

“It’s not right because we don’t know how this happened,” he told reporters when met here on Wednesday (April 2).

Dr Mahathir said the fire and explosion were unusual, adding how PETRONAS had taken necessary measures to ensure the pipeline was safe.

He also said the matter must be studied thoroughly to understand the cause of the fire.

“I am confident that PETRONAS will determine this will not happen again,” he added.

Dr Mahathir said it was very fortunate that no one died from the incident.

“I am sure PETRONAS will investigate this fully, and we hope it will not happen again,” he said.

On Tuesday (April 1), an inferno raged for over seven hours in Putra Heights on Jalan Putra Harmoni, with residents scrambling to safety as it grew to several storeys and blasted sand and gravel kilometres away.

Some 237 homes were affected, displacing 305 victims.