News - We are not immune, warns don

Malaysians should not go around thinking the country is free from natural disasters such as earthquakes, said a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia don.



Geologist Prof Dr Ibrahim Komoo dispelled assumptions that Malaysia had never experienced earthquakes.



"If an earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter cale occurs in Sumatra, then Penang, for example, will experience an earthquake in the 5.0 or 6.0 magnitude



"It was an earthquake we suffered when we felt the vibrations on Dec 26th," he said.



As such, he added, Malaysia would have to shed its complacent mentality and develop measures to handle natural disasters from now on.



"We have to move out of our comfort zone and think like a natural disaster-prone country," he said.



Prof Ibrahim said as an immediate measure, the authorities should develop an early warning system to be better prepared for disasters which might hit the country in the future.



"We must link up with the international community to develop a monitoring mechanism for tsunamis.



"The country doesn't have to invest in setting up monitoring stations. We can co-operate with and learn from others and link up with them instead of reinventing the wheel," he said.



A policy on disaster prevention, he added, was not meant to stop natural disasters but to minimise loss of lives and property.



Source: The STAR