Lessons to be learned from quake

by Phyllis Wong, Peter Sibon and Lian Cheng,

reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on June 9, 2015, Tuesday
A proposal for an earthquake monitoring system to be installed in Sabah in 2013 was not
implemented
Yan explaining the fault lines across Sabah
The map of Sabah showing the numerous fault lines. The red lines denote the active ones.
Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun
KOTA KINABALU: Lives could have been saved if a proposal by the Sabah Minerals and
Geoscience Department to install an earthquake monitoring system was put in place in
2013.
Sabah Minerals and Geoscience Departments former director Alexander Yan told The
Borneo Post in an exclusive interview yesterday that had the proposal been given the nod,
lives could have been saved from the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that rocked Mount
Kinabalu on Friday and claimed 18 lives.
Yes, we could have prevented the loss of lives if we have put in place the Global
Positional System (GPS) that could detect even slight movements of the earth in the
affected area.
He disclosed that his proposal to the federal government, among others, contained a
request for RM7 million to install GPS monuments along the fault lines in the vicinity of Mt
Kinabalu.
However, my proposal was put on shelf, and the state department concerned could not
do much.
On the promise made by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Sunday that
the government would build a Seismic Centre in Sabah to monitor earthquakes in the
state, Yan said it was a good move.
We very much welcome such a centre and certainly its high time for such centre to be
operational in the state. On why there was such a proposal in 2012, Yan, a registered
professional geologist and a council member of the Institute of Geology Malaysia, said the
last earthquake measuring 5.2 magnitude occurred in 1991. Based on the 50-year cycle of
earthquake recurrence, he had predicted that the recent earthquake could occur, so the
state better be prepared.
However, it occurred within the 25-year-cycle, instead of the normal 50 years,
said Yan, who was recently appointed as a member of the Board of Geologists Malaysia.
Though Yan was not caught by surprise by Fridays earthquake, he was surprised by its
magnitude, which he considered as a strong earthquake.
Based on his departments studies in 2006, there were a number of active fault
lines in Sabah, of which two distinctive ones Kedamaian and Lobou-Lobou
faults lie within Ranau District and criss-crossing Mt Kinabalu.
Under his proposal three years ago, Yan had proposed installing at least 10 GPS
monuments around these two fault zones with holes drilled up to between 100 to 200
metres deep until they reach the bedrocks. Based on history and the 50-year cycle
prediction, the next one would probably happen in Lahad Datu.
In July 1976, Lahad Datu experienced a 5.8 magnitude earthquake, with damage mostly
to buildings.
To realise Muhyiddins proposal, agencies such as the Department of Minerals and
Geosciences, Malaysian Mapping and Surveying Department (Jupem) and Meteorological
Department together with local universities such as UiTM and UTM should get to work
together immediately, advised Yan.
Meanwhile, in an earlier exclusive interview, Minister of Environment, Culture and Tourism,
Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said Sabahans had been used to minor tremors now and then,
but no one predicted an earthquake of such magnitude coming.
This is something no one can predict. There have been tremors in the past but not of this
magnitude. It is not reasonably foreseen, if I may use the term. Masidi, however, agreed
there was a lesson to be learned from the whole incident.
The world or the earth has become so unpredictable that we have to be ready for any
eventuality. I think people need to be ready.
Contrary to Yan, he said no authorities within Sabah had any prior knowledge that an
earthquake of such magnitude might hit Sabah.
People are looking at what is happening in countries like the Philippines and Indonesia.

In fact, yesterday, I heard they were trying to connect those happenings with ours. It is a
good time for scientists to look beyond our own shore. We cant depend only on mere
happenings in the past, said Masidi.
To be better prepared for earthquakes, his ministry was combing the country for qualified
geologists, adding that his ministry was more than happy to engage the expertise and
advice of geologists.
Perspective needs to be corrected. We assume we should not be solving it ourselves.
After all, Sabah is part of Malaysia. Things done there (in the Peninsular Malaysia) should
be done here too.
I am not saying they have not done that so far, but I say everybody needs to open their
eyes to think on a national level, not just state level, said Masidi.
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Experts studying earth's movements near Mount Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU Monday, October 1, 2012

RESEARCHERS studying earth movements in areas close to Mount Kinabalu said it will take
another five years to know if the movements are strong. Science, Technology and Innovation
Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said the study by the Survey and Mapping Department of
Malaysia was conducted between 2008 and 2010 at the Mensaban and Lobou-Lobou fault
lines, using global navigation satellite system technologies. He said the study showed the
occurrence of earth movements measuring between a few millimeters and 4cm.
"A conclusive study on the cause of the earth movements would require a further five-year
observation and study to identify whether they actually occurred due to the active fault lines or
were caused by surface movements," Ongkili said yesterday during the opening of the RM3.58
million Ranau Meterological office that is equipped to monitor earth movements.
"The strong motion station is critical as earthquakes and landslides usually occur along the
active fault lines of Mensaban, Crocker, Tabin and Lobou-Lobou, located in Ranau and
Kundasang," he added.
"Earth movements caused by the active fault lines could result in an increase in frequency of
medium-scale earthquakes while surface movements could cause small-scale landslides. The
comprehensive study will let us determine the appropriate mitigation and control measures to
minimise earthquake impact on activities and the people living in the Ranau and Kundasang areas,"
he said.
Ongkili said the office would help the public understand the impact of the weather in their daily
lives.The Star/ANN

Sabah Experiences No Less Than 80 Earthquakes Since 1897

KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 (Bernama) -- Sabah, particularly in the north and northeast of the
state, has been experiencing no less than 80 earthquakes since 1897, with the latest
occurring today.
Minerals and Geoscience Department director-general Datuk Yunus Abdul Razak said the
earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale, with the center located 16 kilometres from
Ranau, was the strongest earthquake recorded so far in Malaysia.
The magnitude of the previous earthquakes were between 3.6 and 5.8 on the Richter
scale.
"Based on the position of the epicentre plotted on the seismotectonic map of
Malaysia, today's quake was believed to be triggered by the Lobou-Lobou Fault
Line," he told Bernama.
The tremor was also felt in most places in Sabah, including Ranau, Tambunan, Tuaran,
Pedalaman, Kota Kinabalu and Kota Belud.
Asked on the possibility of such incidents to recur, Yunus said earthquakes were
unpredictable.
"However, based on tectonic activities and active fault lines in Sabah, earthquakes could
happen again in the future," he said.
For the peninsula, the possibility was still there but based on geological factors, the
situation was seen more stable and secure.

He said following the tremor today, Sabah department of minerals and geoscience would
carry out works to evaluate and record the effects.
Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia geostrategist Prof Dr Azmi Hassan
concurred with Yunus that Ranau and Lahad Datu areas had active fault lines.
Head of Natural Resources and Environment Cluster of the National Professors Council Prof
Emeritus Datuk Dr Ibrahim Komoo said Ranau was identified as an active earthquake area
and there had been about 10 earthquakes recorded in Sabah in recent years.
"Most of the earthquakes were between three and five on the Richter scale...today's
tremor was the strongest ever recorded. This is clear evidence that the area is an active
tectonic zone. It is also associated with an active earthquake zone in Sulawesi.
"There will be more earthquakes in the future. The development in the area near the
epicentre and active fault lines should take into account the impact of the earthquake," he
said.
Sabah Meteorological Department director Abd. Malik Tussin believed that no
large-scale earthquake would occur in the near future.
-- BERNAMA