Johor:The National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) is working to improve Malaysia's response capabilities to earthquakes, amid concerns about their increasing occurrence in regions like Johor.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Saiful Yazan Alwi, deputy director-general of NADMA's Disaster Planning and Preparedness Division, emphasized that the current preparedness for earthquakes is not as robust as it is for other disasters like floods, which have established procedures and protocols. Discussions with the Minerals and Geoscience Department Malaysia have been initiated to enhance the country's readiness for potential earthquake risks.

Saiful Yazan noted that while earthquakes were previously rare in Malaysia, their frequency seems to be on the rise, highlighting a gap in preparedness. "We are worried," he remarked during his keynote address at the National Climate Forum 2026 at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. He pointed out that, unlike flood management, there is a lack of a standardized operating procedure for earthquake response.

He further highlighted the importance of monitoring fault line movements, which could indicate an increased risk of earthquakes. While Malaysia does not experience earthquakes on the same scale as countries in the Pacific Ring of Fire, like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan, the need for a comprehensive multi-hazard early warning system is essential. Such a system would allow for integrated alerts for various disasters, moving beyond the existing separate warning systems for specific threats like floods and tsunamis.

Saiful Yazan stressed that future warning systems should not only alert the public about disaster threats but also provide actionable guidance for those affected. The National Climate Forum 2026 gathered over 500 participants to discuss and enhance the nation's preparedness for extreme weather, climate change, and disaster risks through collaborative efforts in knowledge sharing, research, and cross-sector cooperation.