GAS PIPELINE SAFETY, WATER SUPPLY AMONG ISSUES RAISED IN N.SEMBILAN STATE ASSEMBLY

SEREMBAN, April 29 (Bernama) -- Gas pipeline safety, the assurance of uninterrupted water supply, and efforts to strengthen the education sector were among the key issues raised during the debate session of the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly today.

Yew Boon Lye (PH–Chuah) called for regular inspections of gas pipelines in several areas across the state to ensure public safety, following the recent gas pipeline fire incident in Putra Heights, Selangor.

“The incident is not merely a technical mishap but a stark warning about the risks of rapid development without proper utility management. I urge all utility companies to immediately conduct a comprehensive audit of existing pipelines, underground cables and systems.

“Cooperation between the local authorities (PBTs) and the Fire and Rescue Department must be strengthened to ensure utility maps are regularly updated and high-risk zones clearly identified.

“Monitoring by utility companies, the Public Works Department (JKR) and PBTs must also be enhanced to ensure no excavation works are carried out without prior approval,” he said during the debate on the Motion of Thanks for the Royal Address at the State Legislative Assembly here.

Kamarol Ridzuan Mohd Zain (PN–Paroi) urged the authorities to give serious attention to the safety of gas pipelines in Sendayan, Seremban and Port Dickson, particularly in residential and industrial areas which required close monitoring.

He proposed the introduction of a gas pipeline safety mitigation plan, including a ban on open burning within high-risk zones and the installation of clearer route markers along pipeline routes.

Meanwhile, Yew and Abdul Fatah Zakari (PN-Bagan Pinang) highlighted the need for further improvements to the state’s water supply, particularly in industrial areas.

Yew said a reliable water supply was essential for the industrial development of Chuah, Port Dickson, which borders the Tanah Merah industrial zone.

“Although Syarikat Air Negeri Sembilan (SAINS) has ensured a sufficient and stable supply in the area, the current capacity is only adequate to meet existing demand. I would like to ask whether SAINS has a plan in place in line with the Malaysia Vision Valley 2.0 (MVV 2.0) development to ensure sufficient water distribution capacity to instil investor confidence,” he said.

In the meantime, Abdul Fatah urged Syarikat Air Negeri Sembilan (SAINS) to introduce a more responsive system, including the development of a mobile application to facilitate public complaints and enable prompt action on water-related issues.

“We acknowledge the various efforts made by SAINS in delivering quality services, but there have been complaints regarding the standard of maintenance work, which requires improvement.

“The public needs assurances that all water-related issues will be addressed as effectively as possible so as not to burden them,” he said.

On the empowerment of education in the state, Suhaimi Aini (BN–Kota) suggested that the Ministry of Education and the State Education Department increase their focus on academic excellence and strengthen the implementation of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme at both primary and secondary school levels.

He said the achievements of students in the state in the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, which recorded a State Average Grade (GPN) of 4.18, reflected their ability and competitiveness.

Suhaimi said that the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) with TVET could produce a new generation not only skilled in various fields, but also proficient in global languages, particularly English.

Muhammad Sufian Maradzi (BN-Seri Menanti) proposed that government-linked companies in the state help strengthen education by organising free supplementary classes for students sitting for major examinations.

The state assembly sitting continues tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA