The Selangor government has announced that it will extend rental assistance for victims of the gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, at least until April next year. According to State Housing and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Borhan Aman Shah, the continued RM2,000 monthly aid is intended to ensure affected residents have suitable temporary housing while repairs to their homes are being completed.
“Originally, the state government had committed to providing rental assistance for six months, but we’ve decided to extend the support for up to a year or longer, particularly for houses that were completely destroyed, as reconstruction will require more time,” he said.
“For properties that sustained partial damage, the assistance will also remain in place until all necessary repairs are finished. The rental aid will only be discontinued once the affected residents are able to safely return to their homes,” he added in a statement issued today.
He further stated that the Selangor government will closely monitor the repair work on each affected home to ensure that rental assistance is provided efficiently and in line with the allocated budget.
Earlier, on April 30, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari announced that the state had allocated RM2.73 million in rental aid for 455 families impacted by the explosion, covering a six-month period starting from April.
The Petronas gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, which broke out at 8:10 a.m. on April 1, unleashed flames towering over 30 metres high and generated extreme heat, with temperatures soaring up to 1,000 degrees Celsius. The intense blaze took nearly eight hours to fully extinguish and left behind a massive crater nearly 10 metres deep. In light of the severe damage and prolonged displacement, affected residents had appealed for an extension of the rental assistance — a request the Selangor government has now addressed with continued support to help them rebuild their lives.
Source: Malay Mail
