Six Months After the Blast, Residents Take Legal Action
Six months after a massive gas pipeline explosion tore through Taman Putra Harmoni in Putra Heights, 36 residents have filed a RM68 million lawsuit against five parties — including PETRONAS Gas Bhd, developers Hong & Hong Homes Sdn Bhd, Pinterest Ventures Sdn Bhd, the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ), and the Malaysian government.
The suit, filed on 17 October at the Shah Alam High Court, names the plaintiffs as owners, occupiers, and tenants from the Topaz and Citrine housing communities. The residents, represented by former attorney general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, allege that negligence and systemic oversight led to the deadly April 1 explosion, which destroyed homes and injured around 150 people.
“A Plea for Justice and Recognition of Our Suffering”
Speaking at a press conference, resident representative Loh Poh Heng, 43, said the community’s decision to take legal action was born out of frustration and loss.
“Most of us are still renting homes elsewhere,” he said. “While we’ve received government aid for up to a year, it doesn’t erase the trauma or the uncertainty we live with.”
Another plaintiff, Chen Ka Kim, 62, added:
“We are not only seeking compensation but also the truth and a systemic change in how public safety is managed.”
The explosion — which occurred on 1 April — reportedly sent a plume 40 metres high, with temperatures reaching nearly 1,000°C, and a fire that burned for more than seven hours.
Allegations of Negligence and Breach of Duty
In their statement of claim, according to The Edge Malaysia, the plaintiffs said PETRONAS Gas “owed each of the plaintiffs a duty of care” to ensure its gas transmission pipelines were designed, installed, and maintained safely.
They allege that the company failed to conduct proper geotechnical and soil studies before laying pipelines through unstable ground, which later led to gas leaks, explosions, and fire. The claim also cites breaches under the Gas Supply Act 1993, the Gas Supply Regulations 1997, and the Petroleum (Safety Measures) Regulations 1985.
PETRONAS Gas, in a Bursa Malaysia filing, confirmed receiving the Writ of Summons and said it had appointed legal counsel to represent the company.
“The claim for negligence is based on allegations that PetGas failed to, among others, take reasonable precautions in the protection, surveillance, maintenance and operation of the pipeline,” it stated.
Developers and Local Council Also Named
The residents also accused developers Hong & Hong Homes and Pinterest Ventures of worsening ground settlement and erosion by conducting construction and backfilling work over PETRONAS land, allegedly increasing pressure on the gas pipelines.
The plaintiffs claim the city council breached multiple statutory duties under the Town and Country Planning Act 1976, Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, and Local Government Act 1976.
Federal Government Cited for Oversight Failures
The suit further alleges that the Malaysian government and the prime minister, under the Petroleum Development Act 1974, failed to supervise PETRONAS Gas and ensure compliance with safety standards. It claims authorities did not designate the Department of Minerals and Geoscience and MBSJ as Inspectors of Petroleum — despite the known presence of pipelines in the area.
The plaintiffs argue that this failure to enforce regulations, monitor soil movement, and manage risk directly contributed to the explosion, which devastated their community.
511 Houses Damaged, Hundreds Displaced
A Selangor state briefing to Parliament in August revealed that 511 houses were damaged in the vicinity of the blast. Of these, 103 homes were more than 40% destroyed, while 203 suffered partial damage.
The hardest-hit area, Taman Putra Harmoni, accounted for 306 affected homes, and 399 vehicles were damaged — many beyond repair.
The plaintiffs are seeking general, special, aggravated, and exemplary damages for property loss, injuries, and trauma — and, most importantly, accountability.
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