SHAH ALAM, Aug 25 — The All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Disaster Risk Management (APPGM-DRM) has urged the government to strengthen disaster risk reduction (DRR) measures following a magnitude 4.1 earthquake in Segamat, Johor, yesterday.
The group called for greater investment in hazard mapping, quake-resistant building codes, and improved coordination among agencies such as the Minerals and Geosciences Department (JMG), the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), and PLANMalaysia to enhance preparedness.
“While Malaysia lies outside the Pacific Ring of Fire, we must not take preparedness lightly, especially in urban areas, near critical infrastructure such as dams, and key industrial or tourism zones,” it said in a statement today.
The tremor, which struck at 6.13am and was felt in Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang, caused no major damage or casualties but raised public concern.
APPGM-DRM urged the government to increase DRR spending for both floods and geological hazards to safeguard lives, infrastructure and the economy.
It stressed that DRR must be mainstreamed into national development planning, in line with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy 2030 and the United Nations Sendai Framework, a 15-year global agreement adopted in 2015 to prevent and reduce disaster risk and losses.
To boost resilience, the group made three main recommendations, namely expanding community-based preparedness in disaster-prone areas, increasing funding for research and data collection on seismic hazards, and strengthening regional and global cooperation to adopt cost-effective solutions.
APPGM-DRM also commended swift action by the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) in issuing alerts and conducting initial assessments, and Johor authorities for advising the public to remain cautious.
Analysis by MetMalaysia revealed that two earthquakes occurred yesterday, the first a 4.1-magnitude quake in Segamat at 6.13am and the second a 2.8-magnitude tremor in the Mersing Fault Zone.
APPGM-DRM is chaired by Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan, with Jerantut MP Khairil Nizam Khirudin as deputy chair and Senator Isaiah Jacob as secretary. Its members include Segamat MP Yuneswaran Ramaraj, Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan, and Miri MP Chiew Choon Man.
