By: Ayob Ibrahim

Putra Height, 4 April 2025 – The Minister of Higher Education, YB Dato' Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, visited the Temporary Evacuation Centre (PPS) in Putra Height today following a gas pipeline fire incident that occurred in the area.

The fire caused significant damage and forced residents in the vicinity to be evacuated for their safety. During the visit, the Minister took the time to interact with the victims to better understand their situation and offered words of encouragement as a show of moral support.

The visit also highlighted the ministry’s concern for students of public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) affected by the incident. Among those impacted was a Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) student, Ms. Sanchita A/P Vinayagam — a final-year student in the Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology with Honours programme, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences. According to her, the incident happened so suddenly that she, along with her father and younger sibling, had to flee by climbing over a fence to escape the danger.

UPM’s Student Affairs Division (BHEP) responded swiftly by providing various forms of assistance to the affected students, including Emergency Aid, Disaster Relief Aid, and Food Box Assistance. The student also received financial support amounting to RM2,000 from the Ministry of Higher Education through Yayasan Perkasa Siswa (YPS), a fund which also extended aid to affected students from other universities.

Also present during the visit were YBhg. Professor Dr. Azlinda Azman, Director General of Higher Education, and YBhg. Professor Dr. Arifin Abdu, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) of UPM, who joined in offering support to the affected students and victims at the evacuation centre.

Date of Input: 04/04/2025 | Updated: 04/04/2025 | muhammadayob