MALAYSIA is not completely free from the risk of earthquakes, the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry said today.

In a statement, the ministry said the effects of earthquakes in Sumatra and the movement of the Indian-Australian tectonic plate can result in the activation of ancient faults along the length of Peninsular Malaysia, which can cause earthquakes.

“The magnitude of earthquakes can reach up to six (on the Richter scale) depending on the size of the ancient fault lines that are activated,” it said.

According to the ministry, strong tremors of magnitude 6-6.3 hit Sabah in 1923, 1958, 1976 and 2015, while the strongest earthquake in Sarawak measured 5.3 in 1994.

Tremors have also been felt on the peninsula, with local epicentres in Bukit Tinggi, Pahang; Kenyir Dam, Terengganu; Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan, and Manjung and Temenggor in Perak. These tremors ranged from magnitude 1.6 to 4.6.

For Sabah and Sarawak, the occurrence of earthquakes is caused by the activation of ancient fault lines due to the collision of the Philippines and Eurasian plates, and also by the active movement of local faults.

As such, the Department of Minerals and Geoscience published the Seismic Hazard Map of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak in 2019.

“It focuses on earthquake-resistant building design that needs to be applied in building construction,” the department said. – Bernama, April 17, 2023.