Wait for experts’ views, says Ong

Wait for experts’ views, says Ong
The Star 2/4/2005

KUALA LUMPUR: Town planners, engineers, geoscientists and relevant experts must first evaluate the situation in Malaysia before any new guidelines on the building of earthquake-safe high-rise buildings are introduced.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said that only after these experts have studied the matter would a decision be made on the next course of action.

“The Town and Country Planning director-general (Mohd Fadhil Mohd Khir) told me that the department will consult professionals in the field before making any suggestions to the Government.

“We won't rush into an impulsive decision so let's get the experts' views first,” he said after opening the 2005 China Guangxi Commodities Exhibition & Investment Conference here yesterday.

Ong was commenting on the proposal to introduce new guidelines to ensure future high-rise buildings could withstand earthquake situations.

Mohd Fadhil had said on Wednesday that although there were 43 guidelines on buildings and township planning, none involved the construction of earthquake-proof buildings.

He said that while tremors from earthquakes had been felt in the past, Malaysia was not prepared for the higher intensity and number of occurrences.

Ong said that one immediate action to take was to look at how buildings were affected by the recent earthquake.

He said professionals should give their views on the matter and suggest how the Uniform Building Bylaw could be modified to suit the current situation.

Ong said his ministry would also consult experts from countries like Taiwan and Japan, who have more experience with earthquakes, if necessary.