MetMalaysia Upgrading Tsunami Warning System For Faster Alert Issuance - Johari

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) is upgrading the Malaysian Tsunami Early Warning System (SAATNM) to enable faster issuance of earthquake and tsunami alerts, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Acting Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said that earthquake and tsunami early warnings are currently issued within eight minutes of detection and disseminated to relevant agencies and the public through various communication channels.

“MetMalaysia is upgrading the system to allow information to be produced within six minutes by 2026,” he said in response to a question from Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (MUDA-Muar) on the country’s preparedness for earthquakes during the question-and-answer session.

Johari, who is also the Plantations and Commodities Minister, said SAATNM, which operates around the clock, is managed by the National Earthquake and Tsunami Operations Centre.

In addition, he said there are currently 80 seismic stations nationwide, supported by 323 international stations providing real-time data.

“MetMalaysia also works closely with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC), South China Sea Tsunami Advisory Centre (SCSTAC) and Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS) to ensure earlier, more accurate and reliable warnings,” he said.

Responding to Syed Saddiq’s supplementary question on updates to action plans in line with the latest earthquake risk data, Johari said the country has the Malaysian National Annex to Eurocode 8: Design of Structures for Earthquake Resistance as a reference.

He said the guidelines serve as a reference for developers and local authorities (PBTs) to ensure that buildings constructed, especially in areas identified as earthquake-prone, comply with the prescribed standards.

“Among the hotspots identified are Ranau and Lahad Datu in Sabah; Niah in Sarawak; Bukit Tinggi and Janda Baik in Pahang; Batang Kali in Selangor; Kuala Pilah in Negeri Sembilan; Kenyir in Terengganu; Manjung and Temenggor in Perak; as well as Mersing, Batu Pahat and Segamat in Johor.

“Any developer planning to undertake a project must first check whether the proposed site is listed as a hotspot. If it is, the guidelines must be followed, and based on this earthquake data, the PBT also plays a role in advising on construction specifications,” he said.

--BERNAMA