THE Government has identified 11 active fault zones across the country, with six in Peninsular Malaysia and the remainder in Sabah and Sarawak, as part of a comprehensive geological mapping exercise conducted by the Department of Minerals and Geoscience between 2016 and 2020.
The initiative aims to strengthen national readiness for earthquakes and inform infrastructure planning in seismically sensitive regions.
A fault line is a fracture in the Earth’s crust caused by movement along a plane of weakness when internal stress exceeds the strength of the rock, potentially triggering seismic activity.
Minister of Plantation and Commodities Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who is also acting Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (NRES) outlined the six active fault zones in Peninsular Malaysia today, being: Bukit Tinggi in Pahang, Bok Bak spanning Kedah-Perak, Terengganu, Banding in Perak, Kuala Pilah in Negeri Sembilan, and Mersing in Johor.
Sabah hosts four faults—Lobou Lobou and Mensaban in Ranau, and Lahad Datu and Tabin in Lahad Datu—while Sarawak contains the Tubau fault in Miri.
“Between 2016 and 2020, the Department of Minerals and Geoscience mapped 11 active fault zones nationwide, six in Peninsular Malaysia and the rest in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said in response to a parliamentary question regarding recent tremors in Johor.
To monitor these faults, six active Fault Movement Benchmark (FMB) stations have been installed in Sabah, with 47 passive stations operational in Pahang, Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Sarawak, and Sabah.
FMBs provide precise measurements of fault movements over time. Plans are underway to expand mapping and benchmarking to other high-risk areas, including Johor.
“The seismic hazard map serves as a guide for local authorities and engineers. They are advised to comply with the Malaysia National Annex to Eurocode 8 for earthquake-resistant building design,” Johari added.
On early warning systems, he noted that while earthquakes cannot be predicted, tsunamis can be detected following submarine seismic events.
MetMalaysia currently operates 80 seismograph stations nationwide, supported by 323 international stations.
“Warnings are issued within eight minutes for earthquakes of magnitude 3 or above, and under the 13th Malaysia Plan, we aim to reduce this response time to six minutes by 2026,” he said.
An additional 12 seismic monitoring stations are being established as part of a comprehensive strategy to protect communities in seismically active areas.
Johari also highlighted holistic efforts to conserve rivers through six integrated strategies under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Department of Environment.
Among these is the Rakan Alam Sekitar (RAS) programme, which encourages community involvement in environmental stewardship.
“RAS members act as the eyes and ears of the government, reporting pollution activities and participating in awareness campaigns and clean-up initiatives,” he said.
He stressed the importance of coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local authorities to address river pollution, citing the recent contamination of the Johor River on October 31.
“Collaboration with all relevant agencies is crucial to safeguard water quality and ensure the welfare of the people,” Johari said.
Other measures include stricter enforcement of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 against polluters, focused oversight of development projects requiring Environmental Impact
Assessments, and coordinated monitoring with agencies such as SPAN, IWK, JPP, JMG, state water regulators, and veterinary services.
“All violations causing or contributing to water pollution under the Environmental Quality Act will face stringent action,” he added, emphasizing that input is also provided to local authorities to guide environmentally responsible development planning.
These initiatives reflect Malaysia’s dual commitment to seismic safety and environmental sustainability, combining scientific monitoring, regulatory enforcement, and community engagement to protect lives, infrastructure, and natural resources. - November 29, 2025
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