KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 (Bernama) — A study by the Public Works Department on 65 government buildings around the country found that the structures were strong and able to withstand threats from earthquakes.
Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed said a durability test did not have to be carried out on high-rise buildings as preparation.
However, the government was studying the possibility of including other regulations in the by-laws pertaining to the construction of high-rise buildings, especially in Sabah, he said in his written reply to a question from Razali Ibrahim (BN-Muar) in the Dewan Rakyat here Monday.
Razali had asked the ministry to spell out government policies on owners of high-rise buildings so that they carry out vibration endurance tests to prepare for any possibility and proposed practical training on personal safety for the public to be prepared for the effects of earthquakes.
According to Mohd Zin, the structures of buildings and bridges in the country were designed based on British standards which guaranteed their strength and durability.
On practical training and roadshows to increase public awareness on earthquakes and tsunamis, Mohd Zin said they could be held all over the country.
“The Malaysian Meteorological Department has produced pamphlets and explained on its website the safety steps that need to be observed,” he said.
Besides that, the National Security Council which had acted as the National Disaster Management Committee, with the cooperation of the Fire and Rescue Department, had published a safety guide on how to face any natural disaster, he added.
Excerpt from BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=346117
