The Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) expresses deep solidarity with the people of Malaysia over the gas explosion which occurred in Putra Heights, a residential area outside Kuala Lumpur, which injured more than 100 people. It was even more unfortunate that this frightening incident had to happen on the second day of the Eid Muslim holiday.
This tragedy should serve as a wake-up call and a stark reminder about the continuing danger posed by unabated fossil gas extraction and consumption. Profit-hungry fossil fuel corporations should be condemned for putting peoples’ lives and communities at risk with every gas leak and pipeline explosion. We urge the government of Malaysia to conduct a swift investigation of the explosion and hold Petronas and its investors accountable. Measures to prevent such tragedies from happening in other areas in the future should be swiftly undertaken.
With Malaysia’s presidency of this year’s ASEAN Summit, we also call on the government of PM Anwar Ibrahim take the lead in fostering regional cooperation towards a rapid, just and equitable phase out of fossil fuels in Southeast Asia’s energy sector.
Gas kills. The pursuit of fossil gas expansion projects must cease. We stand firm that no more public funds should be wasted on hazardous energy projects, and reiterate our demand for a direct, just and equitable transition to renewable energy that ensures the well-being of workers, communities, all people and the planet.