Those spreading false info on Putra Heights fire will face law, warn Selangor cops

 

Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan said 755 reports have been lodged by residents over losses or damage to their houses and cars. (EFA Images pic)

SUBANG JAYA: 

People who spread false information about the gas pipeline explosion at Putra Heights will be summoned to give their statements, says Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan.

He said police are monitoring all such posts online and will not hesitate to take action against the individuals.

“We have a special team for this investigation, led by Bukit Aman narcotics criminal investigation department deputy director Kamarul Zaman Mamat.

“The department will check every complaint or content shared online,” he told a press conference at the incident site control post today.

Hussein said Selangor police have identified one person suspected of sharing posts on the incident.

He said two investigation papers have been opened under Section 500 of the Penal Code for defamation and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for sharing false communications.

He also said 755 police reports have been lodged by residents over losses or damage to their houses or cars.

Police have also taken 172 statements from residents, witnesses and the contractor conducting earthworks near the site.

He said that since the explosion site has been declared a disaster area, the forensic team or the public are not allowed to approach the area.

Ultrasonic testing of house structures

Hussein said the public works department (JKR) has conducted another test on the affected houses using the ultrasonic pulse echo  method.

This is a non-destructive technique that uses ultrasonic waves to detect defects, measure thickness and assess the condition of materials, including concrete, by analysing the echoes of transmitted pulses.

He said the JKR checks were consistent with the earlier inspections by other departments, and residents are allowed to return to their homes to start repair works. So far, 190 families have returned to their homes.

Yesterday, Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari said civil servants in the state will contribute an estimated RM102,050 to the Selangor Prihatin Fund to help the fire victims.

Amirudin said each state executive council member, assemblyman and civil servant holding the Grade 48 position or higher will contribute RM1,000, RM200 and RM50, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Dewan Camelia relief centre closed last night after all its residents returned home. Victims at the Putra Heights mosque will return home in stages until the end of this week.

The Petronas gas pipeline fire that broke out at about 8.10am on April 1 sent flames more than 30m into the sky, with temperatures soaring to 1,000 degrees Celsius.

It took nearly eight hours for the blaze to be extinguished. - FMT