HIS Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, yesterday presented aid to 308 households affected by the recent Putra Heights gas pipeline fire.

Each household received RM1,000 from the king through Yayasan Sultan Ibrahim Johor.

Sultan Ibrahim arrived at the temporary relief centre in Putra Heights at 10.20am, driving a Proton Satria Neo RS.

He was accompanied by Raja Muda Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari. Sultan Ibrahim greeted the victims at the mosque relief centre.

Present were Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and Fire and Rescue Department directorgeneral Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad.

Others present were Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay and Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan.

Earlier, the king visited the site of the gas pipeline explosion at 9.40am at the temporary Incident Command Post.

The king was briefed on the situation during the explosion and the latest developments concerning residents.

After the briefing, the king spent some time engaging with the residents waiting to return to their homes.

Sultan Ibrahim took a ride in a Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) four-wheel drive vehicle to survey the site at ground zero.

Meanwhile, Amirudin also engaged with the residents.

Amirudin said residents would receive the RM5,000 financial aid promised to them on Monday and that the list of names had been verified.

He said the victims would also be informed on Monday of the status of the 100 housing units to be provided by the Selangor Housing and Property Board in Kota Warisan, Sepang, to be used as their temporary accommodations.

“After that, we will either replace or repair the houses, but it may take time because the area must first be declared safe by the police.”

On April 1, a fire broke out at a Petronas gas pipeline in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, causing widespread panic as flames shot up.

The heat from the flames, visible from kilometres away, melted plastic and metal within a large radius of the pipeline.

A total of 227 houses and 365 vehicles were damaged in residential areas near the pipeline.

Page 1 pic: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, visiting the site of the gas pipeline explosion at the temporary Incident Command Post in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, yesterday.