KOTA KINABALU: A comprehensive guideline for the construction of earthquake resistant buildings in Sabah is expected to be completed by next year.
Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam said that experts were now in the process of coming out with a more specific guideline to ensure buildings were earthquake resistant.
Speaking to reporters after opening a seminar on guidelines for earthquake resistant buildings here yesterday, the Kundasang assemblyman said that the guidline is expected to take six months to complete.
Experts were taking into account various aspects of the safety features needed in future building development in earthquake-prone areas of the state, he said.
“Though a special panel had put in place various requirements for earthquake resistant buildings that was approved by the state cabinet on November 4, there was still a need for more holistic guidelines for earthquake resistant buildings,” Dr Joachim said.
He said the current guidelines approved would be used by the Kota Kinabalu City Hall and other districts as an immediate measure while waiting for the more detailed and holistic approach towards ensuring the safety of buildings in the state.
The move for putting in place guidelines for earthquake resistant buildings comes following the Mount Kinabalu earthquake that killed 18 people and damaged several buildings, particularly in Kundasang and Ranau areas on June 5.
Various views are expected to be discussed by experts from various fields before the guidelines are put in place and this includes the building resistance to earthquake and for which areas of the state. Former Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Sabah chairman Datuk John Chee said building resistance to earthquake should be higher for the more prone areas of Ranau, Lahad Datu and Kunak.
Chee believed that for Kota Kinabalu itself, the buildings should have a resistance for two magnitude tremors as the state capital only felt the tremors from the Kinabalu earthquake in Kundasang.
He said additional safety features to include more steel bars on the building structure would be sufficient in the state capital area.
Meanwhile Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor in his opening speech which was delivered by Dr Joachim, also stressed on the need for a standard and guideline that focus on earthquake-prone areas in Sabah.
Hajiji added that the guideline should also look into planning that is related to land use.
In planning the guideline and in ensuring that development will be safe and sustainable, consideration will be made on geological and seismic input collected.
The standard and guideline that will be developed will also give consideration to the protection of the environment, function, safety and beautification aspects.
“It will become a main source of reference to the planning of land use development in the state. It will also give a new perspective to development planning from a geological aspect as well as earthquake resistant buildings,” Hajiji said.
With the guideline, the government will be able to minimise damage to properties as well as prevent loss of lives.
According to Hajiji, the Kota Kinabalu City Hall through a committee on earthquake presented its findings to the state cabinet on November 4. After the findings and recommendations were looked into, it was found that they were suitable to be implemented in City Hall’s rating area as well as by the other local authorities, he said.
He believes that more research needs to be conducted to understand the situation in the state.