12/05/2025

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Putra Heights blaze-affected residents thank firefighters

Sabahans urged to be cultural ambassadors MALACCA : Sabahans living outside their home state have been encouraged to serve as cultural ambassadors and promote Sabah’s beauty and heritage wherever they are. Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said every Sabahan can contribute to promoting the state simply by sharing stories, traditional food, dances and attire from their homeland. “Each time we share something about Sabah, that’s a form of valuable promotion,”he said in a statement. He was speaking after officiating at the Kaamatan Festival organised by the Malacca branch of the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) at Dewan Boon Leong in SMJK Tinggi Cina on Saturday. Also present was Sabah Cultural Board member and KDCA Youth Council chairman Steve Johnny Mositun. Joniston called on Sabahans to adopt the spirit of“My Sabah, My Responsibility, My Pride”as the celebration of Kaamatan continues to grow beyond state borders under the inclusive theme “Kaamatan for All”. He said Kaamatan offers a platform to promote domestic tourism and cultural understanding, adding that Sabah recorded 3.14 million tourist arrivals last year, with over 923,000 in the first quarter of 2025 alone. Joniston said with Visit Malaysia 2026 approaching, Sabah is intensifying efforts to attract visitors by focusing on community-based tourism, family friendly packages and sustainable rural destinations. “Our focus remains on culture, adventure and nature as the true pillars of Sabah tourism,”he said. KDCA Malacca chairperson Scholistika Chin echoed the sentiment, adding that the festival reflected the community’s commitment to preserving and sharing Sabahan heritage. “The event featured cultural performances, food exhibitions and the Unduk Ngadau pageant.”– Bernama ALOR GAJAH: A total of 1,695 intellectual property (IP) applications were received in Malacca for 2024, reflecting a positive upward trend, according to the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO). MyIPO director-general Kamal Kormin said the number marks a significant increase from the 1,352 applications recorded in 2023 across five categories. “Trademark applications were the highest with 975 submissions, followed by copyright with 652 applications, while patents recorded 53,”he said. He was speaking after officiating at the Santuni Madani programme at Kampung Sungai Jerneh in Lubok China on Saturday. Also present was MyIPO central region director Khairul Zaman Mustafa Kamal, Bernama reported. However, Kamal noted that applications for industrial designs saw a slight dip, with only 15 submitted in 2024 compared with 26 the previous year. IP applications in Malacca rise sharply in 2024

SUBANG JAYA: Grief, gratitude and quiet resilience filled the air at the Subang Jaya fire station yesterday as residents affected by the Putra Heights gas pipeline explosion met in person with the firefighters who risked their lives to save them. At an emotional event named “The Guardians of Flames”, organised by AsiaWorks Malaysia, those affected by the tragedy gathered to honour frontline responders and share stories of escape, loss and survival. Among them was Aziah Puteh Azib, 55, a government secretary who still carries the trauma of that terrifying day. “I didn’t realise my home was on fire. When others had already evacuated, I was still inside. “I didn’t understand the situation until I started to feel unbearable heat seeping in,” she recounted. In a moment of panic and confusion, Aziah delayed her evacuation until her nephew rushed in to rescue her. “That’s when I left. The roof and curtain railings were already falling. I lost many items, including valuable jewellery.” She found refuge at a nearby surau , where she made a video-call to her husband who was in Kepong at the time. “But even now, the experience lingers. Even going to work, I still feel anxious. I contacted Talian Kasih and spoke to someone for nearly an hour. “That helped,” she said, her o Impacted individuals recount harrowing moments and express gratitude at ‘Guardians of Flames’ event Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Ismail said although firefighters are often seen as heroes, they are just ordinary people with a job to do. – NIK FAIZ/THESUN

“We couldn’t put it out ourselves until that was done.” Reflecting on the aftermath, Ananias said: “Most had lost their homes entirely and even those partially damaged were unsalvageable. If I could say something to the residents, I’d wish them a speedy recovery. Please stay strong, brighter days will come. I only wish I could do more.” Subang Jaya Fire and Rescue Department senior fire officer Ismail Yusof said firefighters are often seen as heroes. But behind the uniform, they are ordinary individuals doing their best. “We are ordinary people with a job to do,” he said. He also stressed the importance of safety awareness and early preparedness in emergency situations. “When you dial for help, time matters. But having an emergency plan in place beforehand can save lives.”

“Some things were saved, but a lot was lost. Even my phone.” Both women brought photographs of what remained of their homes – blackened ruins and ashes that stand as silent testaments to their loss. Among those listening intently was firefighter Ananias Makim, 37, from Sabah. Although not on duty during the blaze on April 1, he was deployed the next day as part of the standby crew. “The fire had already been put out but the heat was still present. Some houses were still smouldering,” he said. Ananias recounted the intensity of the disaster, adding that one firefighter suffered burns during a rescue operation. “The temperature measured up to 1,000°C, even from 200m away.” He said the flames could only be fully extinguished after a Petronas contractor shut off the gas pipeline.

voice she acknowledged the mental toll it had taken. Another resident, Raja Shyra Raja Haris, 56, shared a similarly harrowing escape. “It was just me and my husband at home. My children live in other states. We saw the sky turn orange from the window. The heat was intense,” she said. Initially, the couple considered fleeing toward a nearby river, but concerns over safety prompted them to take an alternative route. “We ran through some bushes and (kept moving) until we reached a roadside,” she said. Despite suffering burns, her focus was on survival. “My left arm got burnt, but I didn’t feel it at the time. I was just focused on getting out.” Now living in a condominium in Kelana Jaya, Raja Shyra has stored what little she could salvage in a rented warehouse. trembling as

Residents claim difficulties in securing compensation SUBANG JAYA: More than a month after the devastating gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights, some residents say they are still facing numerous challenges in securing compensation for their damaged homes and vehicles. internal structure of homes and vehicles. As a result, many residents cannot carry out full repairs or receive fair compensation for their vehicles,” he said at a public dialogue with residents on Saturday. The session, held at Taman Putra Harmoni, was attended by it could exhaust insurance coverage limits and make it harder for residents to seek treatment for other conditions in the future,” he said. “Further briefing sessions will be held to provide residents with information on potential legal action,” he said. those responsible for the explosion and fire.

He also noted that some residents have yet to receive the RM2,000 rental assistance promised by the government while awaiting repairs by the original township developer, Sime Darby Property. “The residents association is closely monitoring the matter and will raise these complaints with the relevant authorities,” he said. Meanwhile, lawyer Farhan Ghani from REC Legal said during a separate briefing session, about 200 affected residents are considering filing a class-action lawsuit against

The explosion on April 1 resulted in flames reaching over 30m high, with temperatures soaring to 1,000°C. It took nearly eight hours to fully extinguish the fire. According to official figures, 81 homes were completely destroyed with structural damage exceeding 40%, while another 81 were partially damaged, 57 were heat-affected but not burned, and 218 homes were not affected. – Bernama

Topaz Putra Heights Residents Association secretary Lau Cheng Chew said many residents were dismayed to find insurance payouts significantly lower than expected, despite the extent of damage caused by prolonged heat exposure during the eight-hour blaze. “Insurance assessors only conducted external inspections of the damage without accounting for the impact of intense heat on the

representatives from 65 homes along Jalan 1/3E, Jalan 1/3F and Jalan 1/3G. Lau added that about 30 residents who sustained injuries are now burdened by rising follow-up medical costs, particularly at private hospitals. “As of April 20, total medical expenses have reached RM2.7 million. This is a growing concern, as