MALAYSIA TO LOOK INTO SAFETY OF STRUCTURE, ROAD - MINISTER

KOTA KINABALU (Malaysia), Oct 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will look into
strengthening the safety measures for buildings and infrastructure to ensure
they are able to withstand major phenomena such as earthquake, Science,
Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili said.

Although Malaysia was spared from major calamities, he said, it was
necessary to prepare for any eventuality.

"We cannot predict what will happen, more so with the change in the global
climate.

"The time has therefore come for Malaysia to put in place measures to ensure
safety of high rise buildings and infrastructure such as roads," he told
reporters after opening Kolej Yayasan Sabah's animation studio here Thursday.

He was asked to comment on a statement by structural engineering specialist
Prof Dr Azlan Adnan of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) that most of the
buildings in the country were exposed to serious damage in the event of an
earthquake.

Dr Azlan said that according to a study carried out by the Science,
Technology and Innovation Ministry and Ikram Assessment Sdn Bhd on the risk of
earthquake and tsunami in Malaysia, 30 per cent of 65 public buildings inspected
nationwide, including those in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Klang, were exposed
to the risk of serious damage.

Ongkili said the ministry, in collaboration with the Public Works
Department, would discuss with the relevant agencies to determine the standards
for structures.

On Wednesday, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Sumatra in Indonesia, sending
tremors and shaking buildings in areas as far away as the states of Johor,
Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
-- BERNAMA