Education Ministry strengthens support for students affected by Putra Heights blaze

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 — Around 85 students from both public and private institutions of higher learning (IPTs) have been identified as victims of the gas pipeline fire that occurred in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, Selangor on the second day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Higher Education director-general Datuk Prof Dr Azlinda Azman said most of the affected students have returned to their respective universities and campuses, with 34 currently attending classes online.

She noted that her team is working closely with the Digital Ministry to provide laptops to students in need, with distribution expected to be completed by the end of April.

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“Some students want to continue their studies online, but their laptops are not in good condition. Fortunately, several universities are lending laptops to support them,” she told Bernama at the launch of Ops Mega Pembersihan at Arena MBSJ today.

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The fire, which broke out at 8.10am on April 1, saw flames reaching up to 30 metres and temperatures soaring to 1,000 degrees Celsius. The blaze took nearly eight hours to fully extinguish.

Azlinda also shared that universities are actively offering psychosocial support to students affected by the incident, as some are still dealing with trauma.

“Vice-chancellors and deputy vice-chancellors are directly monitoring the condition and progress of these students, ensuring they receive continuous support,” she added. — Bernama