APART from those geologists who had recently identified fault lines and drawn them on the map of Sabah and Sarawak, it never occurred to many other people that a powerful earthquake would ever occur anywhere in the country.
Our Geography teachers have told us that since Borneo is outside the so-called Ring of Fire, we need not worry about dangers from exploding volcanoes or violent earthquakes. Tremors, yes, but not a full-scale shake, until a fortnight ago on Mount Kinabalu. The Ranau quake has proven that we were wrong in our beliefs.
Over the years, such tremors have been reported and recorded in Ranau and Lahad Datu by the Geological Department. Suspecting that something monstrous might occur in the near future, the department had recommended in 2013 to the higher authorities to install at strategic locations in Sabah the latest gadgets like seismic sensors. These instruments were for the purpose of monitoring the intensity and frequency of such tremors in any suspect location. Strong tremors, the experts say, indicate active fault lines and along such lines an earthquake of some magnitude on the Richter scale may occur any time at its own choosing. Malang tidak berbau, as the Malay proverb says.
However, before the instruments had been purchased and installed, the quake occurred and shook Mount Kinabalu with such violence that while it lasted many climbers were stranded on the summit, many still on the way up and others were on their way down. But 18 precious lives, including children, were lost though most climbers were safely rescued by brave guides. Two of them died together with their wards.
Wise after the event
As with many cases of misfortune, we are wise after the event. According to one geologist, some lives could have been saved had these monitoring instruments warning of impending danger been used. There would have been enough time for the climbers to take refuge in the safer areas on the mountain or to descend the mountain quickly. The next batch of climbers could have been stopped from going up. But there was no such warning.
Not until the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had gone to Sabah last week was the importance of seismic sensors fully appreciated. He announced that he would direct the National Security Council to look into the matter. At least, we are getting somewhere, better late than never.
How dangerous are Sarawak’s fault lines?
However, there was no mention of similar instruments being used in Sarawak despite the fact that we have a fair share of fault lines, even active ones above which hydro dams may be built. That makes many of us, the amateur geologists, wonder if such dams are safe for a long time.
Don’t ask me about further details of hydro dam construction though I have seen dams in Thailand, and was involved in resettling people affected by the Batang Ai Hydropower Project in the 1980s. I can’t remember being told that the Batang Ai Project was built on any fault lines. So this one dam must be safe. As for the proposed Baram Dam and the Baleh Dam, the people with vested interests have assured us that these dams will be safe enough for 100 years, at least. We are told that the economic life of a good dam is about 50 years before they are filled up with silt and useless.
For the dams, it would be fair to suggest that we need a second or even a third opinion on the safety of the proposed dams in light of the latest information on the fault lines above which our dams would be built. Let’s allow the people as the stakeholders to hear views of more people, even their scepticism if the stakeholders are to be assured of the safety of those dams to save the lives of those who live below them.
For Sabah, the Deputy Prime Minister has acted smartly: gadgets would be placed at strategic places in Sabah to monitor or sense the intensity of the earth’s movements. By this the experts can tell a potential disaster and thus would be in a position to advise the public of potentially dangerous tremors to secure safe places for themselves and for the disaster outfits to standby and be ready for action to help.
Heartfelt condolences
The account of the Kinabalu disaster has been adequately written about since it happened that it would be painful for me to repeat the gory details here today.
It remains for me to associate myself with the expression of extreme sadness and heartfelt condolences and sympathy for the bereaved families of those who died prematurely. I join in the prayers for the repose of the souls of those departed. You are not alone.
To the mountain climbers, our venerable Santubong is an alternative to Kinabalu or Everest now both out of bounds for the time being. Just don’t go naked on the mountain. You will get badly bitten by the mosquitoes in the wrong place.
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