Pahang Terengganu Perak N Sembilan Sabah And Sarawak Identified As Earthquake Risk Areas Says Ministry

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Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii said studies conducted by the Department of Mineral and Geoscience Malaysia (JMG) through active fault mapping and the Malaysian Seismotectonic Map found fault zones in these states that are vulnerable to seismic activity. — Reuters picKUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Six states — Pahang, Terengganu, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah and Sarawak, have been identified as areas at risk of earthquakes, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii said studies conducted by the Department of Mineral and Geoscience Malaysia (JMG) through active fault mapping and the Malaysian Seismotectonic Map found fault zones in these states that are vulnerable to seismic activity.
As such, he said the Malaysian Seismic Hazard Map, developed by JMG in collaboration with the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), local universities, and related technical agencies, is currently being updated.
“The update takes into account the latest data, including recent earthquake events, the presence of active faults, geological materials, and soil investigation findings.
“The earthquakes in Segamat and Batu Pahat were part of a natural process releasing accumulated tectonic energy within ancient fault lines to stabilise the earth’s crust. This was influenced by the extension of the Mersing Fault Zone, a major fault system in East Johor.
“Based on current and updated data, Segamat and Johor as a whole remain within a safe zone,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Huang was responding to a question from Aminolhuda Hassan (PH–Seri Gading) about studies by MetMalaysia and JMG to determine the cause of recurring tremours in Segamat and Batu Pahat, and to identify other areas that may face similar risks in the future.
He said MetMalaysia and JMG are working together to monitor seismic activity nationwide to ensure a more effective early warning and disaster response system.
“To achieve this, MetMalaysia will implement Phase 2 of the Earthquake and Tsunami Service Enhancement Project under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).
“The project includes strengthening 12 seismic stations nationwide, building two new stations in Segamat and Muar, Johor, and upgrading four existing stations in Johor Bahru, Batu Pahat, and Gelang Patah from strong-motion to weak-motion types to detect low-magnitude tremours,” he said.
Meanwhile, in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Abdul Khalib Abdullah (PN–Rompin) on the maximum possible earthquake magnitude in Johor, Huang said studies by a seismometric working group — comprising technical agencies, researchers, and professional bodies under the Earthquake Action Committee led by JMG, found that the highest potential earthquake level in Segamat and Batu Pahat is of moderate intensity.
He said although earthquakes in Peninsular Malaysia are generally of weak to moderate intensity, risks remain, particularly in areas close to fault zones such as the Mersing Fault Zone, which is influenced by the region’s geological conditions.
“The design of earthquake-resistant structures in Malaysia is guided by the Malaysia National Annex to Eurocode 8: Design of Structures for Earthquake Resistance, published by the Department of Standards Malaysia, which serves as the main engineering reference for seismic mitigation,” he added. — Bernama 

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