PULAU RONDO (Indonesia): The first Malaysian tsunami early warning system buoy was deployed near this island yesterday after months of negotiations and planning with the Indonesian Government. 

Malaysian Meteorological Services Department director-general Dr Yap Kok Seng, who witnessed the occasion, said the RM2.4mil tsunami buoy was important to ensure that the country was ready with all the necessary equipment to monitor any possible tsunamis. 

“This buoy is the first of three that will be deployed by February,” he told Malaysian reporters aboard the Indonesian research vessel Baruna Jaya 1 after the buoy was deployed.  

“This is important as it means we are ready to share data with all Asean countries, especially Indonesia, which has the most number of spots with active seismic activities. 

VITAL DEVICE: The tsunami warning buoy being deployed from the ‘Baruna Jaya 1’ near Pulau Rondo in Indonesia yesterday.

Also present were Dr Ahmad Sabirin Arshad, managing director of Astronautic Technology Sdn Bhd, the project contractor, and Indonesia's head of Technology Centre for Marine Survey Ridwan Djamaluddin. 

Dr Yap said the tsunami buoys were important components of the Malaysian tsunami early warning system, adding that the second buoy was scheduled to be deployed in the Sulu Sea next month, while the third would be placed in the South China Sea in February. 

“The data from these buoys are important to us as these will be transmitted to the Earthquake and Tsunami Early Warning Centre located at the department's office in Petaling Jaya via satellite link. 

“The buoys are part of the Government’s contribution towards the establishment of a global tsunami warning system coordinated by the Inter-governmental Oceanographic Organisation (IOC-Unesco),” he said.