‘In no danger of earthquakes’

THE public has no reason to be concerned about earthquakes in Peninsular Malaysia as it is situated on a stable tectonic plate.

Rusli Tuan Mohamed, director of the Selangor Mineral and Geoscience Department (JMG), addressed StarMetro’s article titled ‘Shoring up construction standards in Malaysia’ published on September 4. He explained that the tectonic plate is located on Sundaland, which is part of a continental shelf that has existed since the ice age.

According to Rusli, there are no recorded active subduction zones in the peninsula. The nearest one, the Pacific Ring of Fire, is located behind Sumatra and is almost four times the size of West Malaysia in terms of land area. He also mentioned that the only active fault line in the region is the Bukit Tinggi Fault which passes through Kuala Kubu Baru, Bukit Tinggi, and Kampung Janda Baik.

Despite this, seismic readings from the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) indicate weak vibrations with a maximum magnitude not exceeding 3.3 on the Richter scale. Rusli stated that earthquakes need to surpass a magnitude of five on the Richter scale in order to cause damage.

Rusli clarified that subduction zones occur when tectonic plates collide and are pushed under one another, while fault lines are fractures in the Earth’s crust resulting from the movement of the plates. He assured that there have been no recorded earthquakes in the Genting Highlands area despite its proximity to the Bukit Tinggi Fault.

In regard to the Kuala Lumpur Fault zone, which includes the Klang Gates quartz reef and Batu Caves, extending to Negri Sembilan, there have been no earthquakes recorded in the area. Rusli also mentioned that apart from natural causes, large-scale construction projects like dams can trigger earthquakes.

An example of this is the Kenyir Dam in Hulu Terengganu, where tremors with a magnitude of two on the Richter scale were recorded during the 1980s due to rapid water filling caused by the monsoon. Rusli emphasized that dams are typically designed to withstand earthquakes up to a magnitude of six for public safety.

Therefore, he emphasized the importance of referring to the Seismic Hazard Map (SHM) published by JMG in all development plans to ensure public safety. The SHM presents the likelihood of future earthquakes based on past seismic records. Rusli mentioned that local authorities such as Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Petaling Jaya City Council, Ampang Jaya Municipal Council, Selayang Municipal Council, and the Hulu Selangor District Council are aware of the need to consult the SHM in development planning.

Furthermore, the local authorities must comply with the latest construction standard, which is the National Annex to Eurocode 8 (EC8), officially known as MS EN 1998-1:2015. Rusli advised the public to rely on reputable sources such as JMG, MetMalaysia, and the Public Works Department (JKR), rather than unverified content creators, for information on earthquakes.

JMG is responsible for seismic studies, while MetMalaysia collects data such as earthquake epicenters and seismic readings. Technical development related to earthquakes falls under the jurisdiction of JKR. Rusli reassured the public that the surface of our planet is always in motion and that tremors are beneficial as they prevent pressure buildup. Therefore, there is no need for panic when experiencing minor tremors.