SHAH ALAM, April 11 — Earthquakes cannot be predicted in advance because, to date, no technology can detect them before they occur.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department’s Director-General Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said that, unlike weather phenomena, which can be forecast based on factors such as wind and humidity, earthquakes occur suddenly when pressure within the Earth is released.
In terms of risk, Malaysia is located outside the Pacific Ring of Fire, the world’s most active earthquake and volcanic zone.
“There is no technology in any country that can predict earthquakes, and we are fortunate not to be located in a major tectonic plate boundary zone. The risk of major earthquakes in Malaysia is low.
“Most earthquakes recorded in Malaysia are of small magnitude, below five, and in many cases, are not felt by the public,” he said during the ‘Bicara Semasa’ programme by Media Selangor.
Commenting on the recent earthquake incident in Johor, Hisham said it was considered unexpected and was caused by an old fault line, or a ‘dormant fault’, that became active again after pressure had built up over a long period.
However, the situation differs in Sabah, which is closer to the active Pacific Ring of Fire. He added that this geographical position makes Sabah more exposed to earthquake risk than Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.
“Only in Sabah is the state closer to active tectonic plate boundaries, and therefore the risk is higher,” Hisham said.
The earthquake at Mount Kinabalu previously demonstrated that the area can experience stronger tremors, causing significant impact, including damage and loss of life.
On February 23, a strong earthquake measuring magnitude 6.8 struck waters off Sabah, the strongest tremor recorded in the country over the past 11 years.
The previous strongest earthquake recorded in Malaysia was of magnitude 6.0 in Ranau, Sabah, on June 5, 2015. The incident claimed 18 lives and remains one of the most remembered tragedies in the nation’s history.
On Saturday (April 4), a weak earthquake measuring magnitude 3.1 struck waters off Batu Pahat, Johor. It was the fourth incident in the district following the previous occurrence on 14 March, also off Batu Pahat, with a magnitude of 3.2.
In August 2025, Segamat recorded four earthquake incidents within a week, on August 24, August 27, August 28, and August 29, with magnitudes of 4.1, 3.2, 2.5, and 3.4, respectively.
On October 23, 2025, the then-acting plantation and commodities minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said that Batang Kali and Ulu Yam in Selangor were among 14 hotspot areas identified as locations prone to earthquakes in the country.
Responding to an oral question in the Dewan Rakyat, he said other areas include Ranau and Lahad Datu in Sabah, Niah (Sarawak), Bukit Tinggi and Janda Baik (Pahang), Kuala Pilah (Negeri Sembilan), Kenyir (Terengganu), Manjung and Temenggor (Perak), as well as Mersing, Segamat, and Batu Pahat (Johor). – Media Selangor
