PKR Sarawak wants immediate probe on Bintulu factory fire

MIRI (Aug 15): Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak wants a thorough and transparent investigation to be carried out immediately on the explosion and fire at a foreign-owned factory in Samalaju Industrial Park, Bintulu.

Its state chapter chairman Roland Engan in a statement today said the fire was unexpected and raised many questions about safety in the industrial area from the public including PKR Sarawak.

“The cause of the fire needs to be identified so that early steps can be taken to prevent fires like this from happening again,” he said.

Suggesting that losses should not be the only consideration in the investigation, Roland said the spotlight should also be on factors that could have caused the fire.

The investigation should also cover industrial licensing, power generation systems, employment, prevention of environmental pollution, the impact on the health of nearby residents and the impact on the general perception of industrial safety in Sarawak, he added.

“Hopefully all the results of the detailed and transparent investigation will be reported at the appropriate forum later,” said Roland.

Ten people were injured, including four with burns, in the fire that occurred yesterday evening.

Several video recordings shared on social media showed large explosions and fireballs in the air and plumes of thick smoke spewing out from the affected factory.

Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Operations Centre in a statement confirmed that all the victims had been rushed to Bintulu Hospital for further treatment but no details have been forthcoming from the factory’s management today.

Bomba was informed that the incident was caused by a fire in the factory’s bottom reactor.