By Vincent D’Silva

JOHOR BAHRU: A one-day seminar examining Malaysia’s seismic exposure and the resilience of its built environment was held at the Grand Paragon Hotel, drawing engineers, researchers, and local government officials to a crucial discussion themed “Structural Vulnerability & Integrating Resilience.”

The seminar shed light on the nation’s evolving seismic risks — from active tectonic movements in the Johor Fault System to the susceptibility of buildings across the region.

Participants explored practical retrofitting strategies and engaged in the long-standing engineering debate of structural strength versus ductility, with case studies framed around the new Malaysian National Annex to Eurocode 8. The programme culminated in a critical discussion of the challenges and implications of implementing the newly adopted standards.

The event was officiated by Ir Nazatul Shima Mohamad, Deputy Secretary of the Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB), who underscored the importance of strengthening urban resilience through informed engineering practices.

“This seminar plays an important role in strengthening our knowledge and understanding of structural safety and urban resilience,” she said in her opening remarks. “It is an increasingly critical agenda in achieving sustainable development and building truly liveable cities.”

While Malaysia sits outside the world’s major seismic zones, Nazatul Shima noted that recent mild tremors in the southern region should not be dismissed as inconsequential. “These tremors are a timely reminder for us to re-examine our long-held assumptions and recognize that seismic risks must be taken seriously,” she said.

As Johor Bahru continues its rapid development — and with its growing significance as the epicentre of activity within the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) — she stressed the need for heightened structural vigilance.

“We must ensure that all physical developments and new infrastructures are implemented with due consideration to structural safety and the ability to withstand seismic impacts, even at moderate levels,” she said.

“It is imperative that all parties, particularly Local Authorities, ensure that facilities and buildings remain structurally sound and safe, providing confidence for high-value investors to continue investing in Johor.”

Nazatul Shima praised the seminar for fostering much-needed dialogue across professional sectors. “I truly welcome the organization of this seminar, which provides an excellent platform for knowledge sharing between academicians, engineers, and local authorities,” she said.

“It allows us to broaden our understanding, produce holistic recommendations, and strengthen our preparedness against any unforeseen events.”

She added that the outcomes of such engagements would play a vital role in shaping MBJB’s regulatory approach. “The findings today are invaluable in reinforcing MBJB’s policies, guidelines, and technical practices — particularly in ensuring that structural safety, technical enforcement, and disaster preparedness are prioritized in every approved development project,” she emphasized.

Addressing participants directly, she noted their future role in shaping Malaysia’s built environment. “You are the next generation who will lead the nation’s future — a generation not only articulate and knowledgeable, but one that carries the spirit of nationhood and a strong Malaysian identity.”

Nazatul Shima concluded by expressing hope that the seminar’s insights would be translated into actionable measures. “May the findings and discussions today lead to concrete actions that enhance infrastructure resilience and the safety of our communities — in Johor Bahru and throughout the nation,” she said.

Peninsular Malaysia may be perceived as geologically stable, but new research suggests hidden intraplate faults could still generate ground shaking, said Professor Dr Felix Tongkul in his presentation.

“We are not as tectonically silent as many assume,” Dr Tongkul cautioned. “The Johor Fault System shows clear evidence of past movement, and parts of it may still be active.”

Dr Tongkul highlighted that although the peninsula lies far from major plate boundaries, regional stress from the Sumatra subduction zone and local structural trends indicate that deformation is still occurring at depth. His talk centred on the Johor Fault System—also known as the Mersing Fault Zone—which stretches nearly 80 km from Endau to Kota Tinggi and extends westward toward Layang-Layang and Segamat.

“This is a wide zone of subparallel faults trending WNW–ESE and NW–SE,” he explained. “These younger strike-slip faults cut across older structures, telling us that multiple tectonic phases have shaped this region over millions of years.”

He noted that geomorphological features, satellite imagery and seismic records point to possible Quaternary reactivation, suggesting the system may not be entirely dormant.

While recent earthquakes in southern Peninsular Malaysia have been low to moderate, Dr Tongkul stressed that the Johor Fault System remains a plausible source of localized tremors. “Even quiet faults can wake up under the right stress conditions. We cannot afford to ignore them.”

He urged continued fault mapping, stronger seismic monitoring and the inclusion of intraplate faults in Malaysia’s hazard assessments. “Understanding these hidden systems is essential if we want to build safer, more resilient communities,” he said.

Malaysia may sit outside major global fault lines, but its “low-to-moderate seismic risk can still lead to high-impact consequences,” Professor Ir Dr Taksiah A. Majid cautioned in her paper, pointing to the 2015 Ranau earthquake and the recent 2025 Segamat tremor as critical reminders of the nation’s vulnerability.

Speaking on the findings of the Disaster Research Nexus (DRN) of Universiti Sains Malaysia, Dr Taksiah said the events had “exposed clear weaknesses in construction practices and the enforcement of seismic codes,” adding that Malaysia could no longer rely on the assumption of being a hazard-free zone.

She explained that the DRN’s work is grounded in Total Disaster Risk Management (TDRM), a framework that combines hazard mapping, vulnerability assessments and risk-reduction strategies. “We can no longer work in silos. Strengthening national resilience requires an integrated, science-driven approach,” she said.

One of the centre’s key studies examined the seismic performance of hybrid timber–concrete structures. According to Dr Taksiah, the results were promising: “Hybrid systems demonstrated higher ductility, better flexibility and fewer hinge failures compared to full-concrete structures. This shows there is real potential for safer, more resilient building methods tailored to our local context.”

She stressed the urgency of moving beyond reactive responses. “Earthquakes are not a question of if, but when. Malaysia must invest in proactive seismic design, local research innovation and strong collaboration between engineers, policymakers and researchers,” she said.

Dr Taksiah concluded with a firm message: “Resilience is a choice. The time to act is now—before the next tremor tests us again.”

Associate Professor Dr Mohammadreza Vafaei has called for greater national attention on seismic retrofitting, stressing that Malaysia’s low-to-moderate earthquake environment requires a tailored and pragmatic approach.

Speaking at the seminar, Dr Vafaei outlined the common types of quake-induced damage seen in Malaysian buildings, much of which, he said, “comes from relatively small tremors—but enough to disrupt safety and daily operations.”

He highlighted both conventional and advanced retrofitting methods, from steel bracing and fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) wrapping to modern solutions like base isolation and energy-dissipating dampers.

However, his strongest emphasis was on an often-overlooked area: non-structural components.

“In Malaysia, protecting non-structural elements is frequently more important than strengthening the structure itself,” he said. “These are the components that fail first, cause injury, and lead to costly operational downtime—even during minor earthquakes.”

Dr Vafaei urged building owners, engineers, and policymakers to prioritise practical retrofitting strategies to safeguard both occupants and economic assets.

A key portion of the seminar was presented by Associate Professor Dr Daniel Looi, who addressed one of the most pressing questions faced by structural engineers under the updated standards: Should buildings be designed to prioritise strength, or should flexibility (ductility) take precedence to absorb ground movement during an earthquake?

“With the implementation of Eurocode 8, engineers in Malaysia are now required to make design decisions that were previously unfamiliar,” Dr Looi explained. “One of the fundamental questions is whether a structure should be made stronger or more flexible — and the choice can significantly influence how a building performs when subjected to seismic forces.”

Another factor he highlighted was the selection of the appropriate soil model for each development site. “Different ground conditions can completely change the way energy is transferred to a building,” he said.

“Choosing the right soil model is not a minor detail — it is a critical step that determines the accuracy and safety of the entire design.”

Dr Looi’s presentation centred on a reinforced concrete building case study that compared various design approaches under different seismic conditions. The findings brought to light the real-world implications of seemingly technical decisions.

The 2004 Aceh earthquake and tsunami marked a watershed moment for Malaysia’s engineering community, prompting urgent questions about the nation’s seismic preparedness. “For the first time, high-rise residents in Peninsular Malaysia felt buildings sway from tremors travelling 300 kilometres across the Straits,” recalled Professor Ir Dr Jeffrey Chiang.

That experience led the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) to publish its first Position Paper on Earthquake Issues in 2007. Two years later, IEM was appointed by SIRIM to chair the technical committee responsible for developing MS EN1998-1-1, Malaysia’s seismic design standard. “It took eight years of rigorous work, and the code was finally published in 2017,” Prof Chiang said.

Now, another eight years on, IEM is pushing for a full review. “We believe it is time to update Malaysia’s seismic provisions,” he said. “IEM is ready to lead again — and this time, we want to broaden the scope to include recent seismic events across ASEAN.”

He added that IEM intends to work with Malaysia’s Department of Standards and invite ASEAN engineering bodies, including AFEO partners, to jointly strengthen regional seismic codes based on Eurocode 8 principles.

The seminar closed on a unified message: Malaysia can no longer afford complacency. With experts calling for updated codes, smarter design choices and proactive retrofitting, the nation’s path forward is clear — resilience must be engineered, not assumed.