KUALA LUMPUR: The Technical Committee on Earthquakes should be reactivated to coordinate studies and reassess seismic risks in Malaysia following the recent tremors, Department of Minerals and Geoscience Malaysia (JMG) director-general Datuk Zamri Ramli said.
He said the committee, coordinated under the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), could review existing data to support more accurate studies and action plans.
ALSO READ: Experts: Malaysia needs new geologic maps
He proposed that the committee include representatives from JMG, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia (Jupem), the Public Works Department (JKR), academics and professional bodies.
"This committee is important to refine existing data on tectonic activity and potentially active fault lines,” he told Bernama.
The committee was last active in 2020.
Zamri said the series of tremors in Segamat was an unexpected sign, caused by tectonic activity that released internal stress along a fault zone.
ALSO READ: Experts call for closer monitoring of structures after Segamat tremors
He added that Malaysia’s old fault lines, estimated to be between 60 million and 200 million years old, must be re-examined.
"The focus will be on reviewing historical fault characteristics and determining their slip rates and lengths to estimate possible earthquake magnitudes,” he said.
He stressed the importance of microzonation studies and updated fault mapping, noting that earthquake impacts can vary depending on location, even with similar magnitudes.
JMG has begun fieldwork in Johor, starting in Segamat before extending to other areas identified as vulnerable.
Zamri said several parts of Malaysia face potential risk, in addition to the transboundary effects of earthquakes from neighbouring countries.
He also highlighted the role of Jupem’s geodesy expertise in determining whether fault movement rates have changed after the tremors.
Since Aug 24, six minor earthquakes have been recorded - a 4.1 magnitude tremor in Segamat, followed by a 2.8 the same morning, and others on Aug 27 (3.2), Aug 28 (2.5), Aug 29 (3.4) and Aug 30 (2.7). - Bernama
