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A SERIES of minor earthquakes in Johor has exposed the Malaysian public’s limited awareness of seismic risks, despite increasing tectonic activity that could pose future threats, a disaster risk specialist has warned.
Bernama cited Raja Segaran Kuppusamy, a former Chief Engineer for Disaster Risk Reduction at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Iraq under the United Nations, said many Malaysians still believe the country is immune to earthquakes.
“People don’t believe tremors can occur here. They only think about floods, haze and landslides. But when the quake struck Johor, they were shocked. It shows that public awareness about seismic risk remains very limited,” he told Bernama.
He explained that while Malaysia is not located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, it is increasingly affected by movements of the active Sunda tectonic plate, which is gradually altering local geological conditions.
The recent tremors in Johor, including a 4.1-magnitude quake in Segamat on 24 August and a 2.9-magnitude event near Sri Medan, Parit Sulong, on 3 September, should be viewed as early warnings, he said. Stronger quakes could trigger landslides, floods, tsunamis, and serious structural damage to roads, bridges and high-rise buildings.
Raja Segaran called for a more comprehensive approach to seismic preparedness at the state, district and community levels, urging authorities to adopt models from the Middle East, where direct communication with residents is used to deliver early warnings effectively.
He also pointed to Japan and China as examples of countries that have built resilience through decades of experience and strong collaboration between the public and government agencies.
“Natural disasters cannot be avoided, but loss of life and property damage can be minimised with early preparation, improved awareness, and strict compliance with stronger building standards,” he said.
He stressed the need to incorporate seismic considerations in construction design, noting that many engineers still neglect this aspect due to the widespread belief that Malaysia is safe from earthquakes.
“Thankfully, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) now mandates all stakeholders to adopt safety design standards capable of protecting lives during earthquakes and tsunamis,” he added.
At least eight seismic events were recorded in Johor over the past week, raising concern among experts and highlighting the urgency for public education and preventive planning. - Sept 6, 2025