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THE government must urgently clarify key safety measures and act more decisively to reassure the public following the earthquake that struck on 24 August, said Jementah state assemblyman Ng Kor Sim, who described widespread anxiety among residents after tremors were felt in the area.
“Families here felt the ground shake, children were frightened, and many residents remain anxious about what could happen next,” Ng said in a statement. “These fears underline why the government must urgently clarify key safety issues that remain a source of public worry and anxiety.”
Speaking after a dialogue held on 3 September in Segamat with senior government officials and multiple agencies, Ng expressed disappointment with what he called “vague and non-committal” responses from the authorities.
“This does not inspire confidence, and it certainly does not calm the worries of Jementah residents and others who continue to live with uncertainty,” she said.
She pointed to several examples, including the lack of confirmed dates or details for public disaster drills, which were only tentatively scheduled for October. “There was no information on which agencies would lead it, where it would be held, or whether it would be continuous in the future.”
Ng also raised concerns about the safety of schools and critical infrastructure. Although officials reported minor damage in five schools, there was no confirmation that all educational institutions had been inspected.
Similarly, she said there was no clear assurance that gas pipeline maps or infrastructure schematics had been made available to emergency rescue units.
“Preparedness must extend beyond technicalities,” she said. “Schools and mosques are at the heart of community life. Their safety must be guaranteed, not assumed.”
Ng added that hospitals also need to be assessed for their capacity to handle potential surges in casualties, should a more serious disaster occur.
“The recent quake is a reminder that Malaysia needs a stronger culture of national preparedness that leaves no community behind,” she said. “The people of Jementah have seen first-hand how unpreparedness can fuel anxiety. Their calls for answers echo the same calls that should be heard across Malaysia.”
Her remarks were echoed by several residents who spoke of the fear and uncertainty they experienced.
Khalifa Khalidi, 27, a grocery store assistant manager from Kampung Jabi, told The Star that she and her mother were stunned by what they thought was a low-flying aircraft, only to realise it had been an earthquake.
“I was preparing to go to work, and my mother said there was a huge sound coming from outside our house, like a low-flying plane,” she said. “All our neighbours came out, but they did not give it much thought. No one was really afraid.”
For S. Kartik Raja, 26, a teacher from Jementah, the tremor was far more distressing.
“The first tremor sounded like a bomb and felt like the whole house was going to collapse,” he said. “It lasted only a few seconds, but it shook me.”
He described how car alarms in his neighbourhood went off simultaneously, and a glass cabinet in his home began to tremble. Fortunately, there was no serious damage.
In Kampung Baru Bukit Siput, village chief Tey Ching Hoon said the repeated tremors had left many shaken.
“All of us have never experienced earthquakes, and to be hit with several tremors again after the first one is scary,” the star reported her saying.
Meanwhile, residents Ramlah Ishak and her sister Umi Kalsom Ishak reported visible soil cracks in their garden, believed to have been caused by the tremors.
Ng added by saying the government needs to address the gaps without delay.
“We need clear protocols, transparent communication, and visible action that demonstrate the government’s seriousness in safeguarding the public. Failing to do so will only deepen the sense of unease among communities that have already experienced the tremors of uncertainty.” - Sept 5, 2025
