Local businessman Chin Khi Min said this reminder was aimed at warning people to prepare for the natural disaster to reduce the risk of loss of lives.
“According to former Director of Minerals and Geoscience Department, Alexander Yan in The Borneo Post, an earthquake would probably happen in Lahad Datu based on the history of a 5.8 magnitude earthquake in 1976.
“That was 39 years ago and the 5.8 magnitude earthquake was about the same as the 5.9 magnitude that occurred in Ranau, last week. The 50-year cycle is near and the earthquake could happen anytime,” he said.
Therefore, Chin said the government must immediately install an earthquake monitoring system as proposed by Alexander Yan to be done in Ranau in 2012.
He said the cost (for Ranau and Mount Kinabalu) was only RM7 million and the government should not wait for another earthquake to happen to show concern.
Chin said Lahad Datu has several new high-rise buildings erected after the 1976 earthquake.The airport area is also now heavily populated.
“We do not want to sow fear among the people. But it is wise if the government installs an early warning system and put in place an effective strategy to handle an earthquake,” he added.
In the meantime, former chief minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee said the government should set up a search and rescue and relief team to deal with this situation more efficiently.
He also suggested the government provide an exercise to face natural disaster especially to schools and hospital so that people would know what to do in the event of an earthquake.
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