By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, Feb 7: The gas leak detected at the construction site of SK Tudan was not caused by a gas pipeline leak, the Sarawak government has confirmed, as it awaits detailed technical reports from the Department of Chemistry Malaysia and the Minerals and Geoscience Department to determine the type of gas involved, which has been identified as flammable, and to assess the geological characteristics of the area, including the possibility that it may be a natural gas reserve.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news, Minister of Transport and Senadin assemblyman Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the State government will not make any premature decisions or speculation on the incident, stressing that all actions will be guided by safety considerations and expert recommendations from the relevant agencies.
The incident was discovered yesterday (Feb 6)) after the school alerted authorities to a gas release during piling works for the construction of a new canteen at SK Tudan.
“The contractor immediately contacted Sarawak Gas as well as the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (Bomba). The fire brigade arrived at the site, collected gas samples and, based on video recordings, the gas was observed escaping under strong pressure,” he told press members after officiating the Appointment Ceremony and Luncheon of the 64th JCI Miri Awards 2026 at a hotel here this afternoon.
He explained that the gas was released suddenly from two pile holes with depths of approximately 33.6 metres and 33.9 metres while piling works were being carried out.
Several agencies were deployed to the site, including the Department of Environment (DOE), the Miri Resident’s Office, the Miri District Office and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).
He added that a Bomba’s Hazmat team from Bintulu was later dispatched to conduct further monitoring and gas sampling, with preliminary findings confirming that the gas is flammable.
Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) has also sent its technical team to the site and confirmed that the incident did not involve any gas pipeline leakage.
“At the initial stage, we suspected the possibility of a gas pipeline leak, but this has been ruled out following verification by PETROS,” he said.
Lee said further investigations are now being carried out by the Department of Chemistry Malaysia and the Minerals and Geoscience Department to identify the exact composition of the gas and to study the area’s geological profile.
When asked whether the school would need to be relocated or if construction could resume, he stressed that no decision would be made at this stage.
On schooling arrangements for SK Tudan students, he said discussions would be held with the education authorities and relevant agencies, guided by safety advice from Bomba.
A joint monitoring report with the Department of Chemistry Malaysia’s Bintulu branch has confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons, while other substances such as toluene, acetone and hydrogen cyanide have yet to be verified and will undergo further laboratory analysis.
Bomba, in its operational report, confirmed that all construction works at the site have been temporarily halted as a safety precaution, with continuous monitoring in place until all risks are fully identified and effectively managed. — DayakDaily
