SHAH ALAM - Malaysia is not usually associated with earthquakes. Yet, in the early hours of Aug 24, tremors shook parts of Johor and neighbouring states, sparking panic and raising questions about the country’s seismic risks.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) said a magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck Segamat at 6.13am, followed by a weaker 2.8 tremor northwest of Kluang just three hours later.
Though relatively mild, the quakes were felt across Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and southern Pahang.
CCTV footage showed cars rocking and alarms going off, while residents described hearing a loud bang before the shaking began.
Segamat police later confirmed three reports of property damage, though no casualties were recorded.
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi urged calm and reassured the public that district authorities and emergency agencies were on standby.
MetMalaysia confirmed there was no tsunami threat, while Petronas reported its pipelines in Segamat were fully secure.
Not Malaysia’s first quake
Malaysia rarely experiences significant earthquakes, but this is not unprecedented.
Johor itself recorded two quakes in 1922, measuring 5.4 and 5.0. Between 2007 and 2008, 13 tremors were recorded along the Bukit Tinggi fault zone near the Selangor-Pahang border.
Other small quakes have been reported in Terengganu, Negeri Sembilan and Perak, typically ranging from 1.6 to 4.6 in magnitude.
Experts say these are examples of intraplate seismicity — quakes that occur within tectonic plates rather than at their boundaries, making them harder to predict.
What experts are saying
Earthquake engineer Dr Azlan Adnan warned that while the Johor tremor was weak, Peninsular Malaysia could still face stronger shocks if old fault lines reactivate.
He pointed to fault zones in Bukit Tinggi (Pahang), Kuala Pilah (Negeri Sembilan), Manjung and Temenggor (Perak) and Tasik Kenyir (Terengganu) as areas of concern.
Hazard studies show that a corridor covering Klang, Kuala Lumpur, Seremban, Melaka, Muar, Batu Pahat, Segamat and Kluang records higher seismic values due to proximity to both Sumatra and local fault zones.
“Malaysia is not earthquake-proof. Old faults can sometimes reactivate and even small tremors are reminders that our buildings need minimum seismic safety standards,” Azlan said.
He called for updated hazard maps using the latest 2025 data, micro-zonation studies in major cities, and improvements to building codes.
Institute of Geology president Abdul Rasid Jaapar echoed these concerns.
“The risk exists and we should remain vigilant,” he said.
The bigger picture
Malaysia sits outside the Pacific Ring of Fire, meaning catastrophic quakes are unlikely. But its proximity to Sumatra, combined with dormant local fault lines, means tremors are not impossible.
The Aug 24 incident was a reminder that even in a country not known for earthquakes, preparedness and resilient infrastructure matter.