Stop Speculating On Pipeline Blaze Focus On Victims Says Ex Mp

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Former Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah says women and children should be given emotional support to overcome the traumatic experience.
PETALING JAYA: Politicians and the public should shift their focus to helping Putra Heights victims and refrain from making speculations on Tuesday’s gas pipeline fire, says a former MP.
Maria Chin Abdullah said it would be unfair to jump to conclusions about the fire while investigations were still being conducted.
“In times of crisis, the focus should be on those affected. Their welfare is of utmost importance. We should ensure that the victims are able to settle back into normality, which is crucial for them,” she told FMT.
Maria, a one-term Petaling Jaya MP, was asked to comment on the finger-pointing following the inferno in Putra Heights which caused damage to more than a hundred homes and hundreds of vehicles.
She agreed with Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari’s remark on Thursday that “it is not the time for debates” when dismissing calls for an emergency sitting of the state assembly to discuss the fire.
Amirudin said investigations should be completed first.
Maria said Amirudin was trying his best to handle the situation.
“Meanwhile, refrain from making statements,” she said.
She called for the investigation to be carried out by an independent team and the findings to be made public together with proposed solutions to ensure such an incident does not recur.
Maria said the government should also look into providing emotional support for the women and children who have been affected, and help them overcome the traumatic experience.
The fire, which broke out on April 1, engulfed a 500m section of the gas pipeline, resulting in 111 people being injured, many with burns and respiratory problems.
Some 235 buildings were affected; 87 houses were completely burnt and 148 damaged. The blaze also destroyed 225 vehicles and damaged 174 others. - FMT

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