AN encroachment has been detected along a section of Petronas’s gas pipeline in the Pendang district of Kedah, where villagers are believed to have been extracting red earth from land situated directly above the pipeline for several years.
Kedah State Housing, Local Government and Health Committee chairman, Mansor Zakaria, said the issue came to light following a report by the district officer involving two affected villages.
“The matter was brought to our attention by the district officer. The villagers have been removing soil from the pipeline route,” he told reporters after the Kedah State Legislative Assembly sitting today.
Petronas has since been informed and instructed to carry out an inspection and take the necessary measures. Although the encroachment area is not extensive, Mansor raised concerns over the potential risk to the underground infrastructure, noting that the gas pipeline lies approximately 6.4 metres below ground.
His concerns come in the wake of a recent gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights, Selangor, earlier this month, which underscored the need for heightened vigilance and preventative action.
Meanwhile, the state’s infrastructure agency, Utiliti Infra Darul Aman (UIDA), is undertaking a comprehensive remapping exercise to update the routing of all utility infrastructure, including gas pipelines, water supply lines, and electricity cables.
“The data will be incorporated into UIDA’s database. This will help identify any utility infrastructure during planning and development approval processes,” Mansor added.
During the state assembly session, he also noted that Petronas holds the legal authority to take action against any individuals or parties found to be trespassing on its pipeline corridors. - April 23, 2025
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