Explosion at Malaysian University Highlights Safety Maintenance Needs

PETALING JAYA, Jan 15 — An explosion at a private university in Bukit Damansara has underscored the critical importance of engineering controls, routine maintenance, and safety audits in preventing accidents, with preliminary investigations linking the blast to an air-conditioning compressor.

The incident occurred near a cafeteria-side maintenance area at the university along Jalan Semantan.

Safety experts caution against drawing early conclusions as investigations continue, with one fatality and several injuries reported.

"Higher learning institutions maintain dedicated teams to oversee all installations sensitive to fire or explosions," said Dr Warid Wazien Ahmad Zailani, coordinator at Universiti Teknologi Mara Civil Engineering Faculty.

"This vigilance is why such mishaps are extremely rare in Malaysia."

He emphasized that many potential accidents are preventable through proper engineering controls and management systems.

"Facilities are equipped with sensors to detect irregularities," Warid Wazien said.

"These warnings give personnel sufficient time to respond, often preventing accidents before they occur."

Routine maintenance and safety audits are equally critical, with university management and maintenance teams working closely to ensure thorough inspections.

"Participation from top management down to the personnel supervising routine checks is essential to maintain a safe environment," he added.

For long-term safety, he advised universities with older or high-traffic facilities to prioritize upgrades and replace obsolete equipment with modern systems.

"We are not in a position to draw conclusions at this stage as it could interfere with the investigation," Warid Wazien cautioned.