PUTRAJAYA: Random audits on high-rises built since 2016 will be carried out to ensure they conform to quality build standards, Nga Kor Ming says.
The audits are to ensure that buildings were constructed according to the Quality Assessment System in Construction or the Qlassix score and standards fixed by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), the Housing and Local Government Minister said.
While stressing that stringent CIDB safety standards were in place, Nga said that Malaysia could not rule out any possibilities in response to the recent earthquakes in Johor.
"We cannot consider Malaysia an earthquake-prone free country.
"It is important that we take the incidents in Segamat as an awareness for people to realise we have to do prevention as prevention is better than a cure," he told a press conference here on Friday (Aug 29).
Nga also said that high-rises built according to stringent CIDB safety standards could withstand earthquakes measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale.
"Since 2016, guidelines on building safety standards have come under the CIDB.
"Their latest guidelines show that multi-storey, high-rise buildings must be able to withstand earthquakes measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale, not 5.0 or 6.0, but 7.0.
"This means that our building standards conform to international standards," he said.
Johor, specifically Segamat, has experienced five earthquakes over the last five days.
An earthquake measuring 3.4 magnitude was detected in Segamat, Johor at 4.24am the same day (Aug 29).
Segamat had recorded four earthquakes, two on Aug 24 and once on Aug 27 and 28, with magnitudes ranging between 2.5 and 4.1.
Asked about buildings built before 2016, Nga said they were not designed according to the standards.
"That is why we need the Urban Renewal Act.
"Under the present legal framework, we require 100% consent if we want to demolish and rebuild," he added.
Following the 6.0 earthquake that struck Ranau, Sabah in 2015, the Malaysian National Annex MS EN 1998-1 (Eurocode 8) was introduced in late 2017.
The code incorporates earthquake-resistant design into new construction specific to Malaysia, focusing on the seismic design of buildings and civil engineering structures.
All new government premises built after 2019 are mandated to be earthquake-resistant, reflecting a nationwide commitment to enhancing safety standards.
