By Kenny Teng Khoon Hock
BANGKOK, April 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s high-rise buildings are designed to withstand earthquake tremors of at least magnitude 7, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said.
He said all high-rise buildings in the country must comply with stringent safety standards introduced in 2015, despite the higher costs.
“We will not compromise on public safety,” he told Bernama in a recent interview.
Nga was asked to comment on the earthquake that struck Myanmar, the tremors of which were felt in Bangkok and caused the collapse of the construction site for the new headquarters of the State Audit Office, located in Chatuchak district near Bang Sue Grand Station.
Nga emphasised that all buildings in Kuala Lumpur must undergo a geotechnical assessment before obtaining development approval to prevent any untoward incidents.
Although building safety standards fall under the purview of the Works Ministry, he assured that Malaysia has robust safety regulations and is continuously exploring ways to strengthen them.
"The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), under the Works Ministry, has comprehensive guidelines to ensure not only public safety but also worker safety. We aim for zero casualties during the construction period," he said.
Nga highlighted that Kuala Lumpur is no stranger to mega-tall buildings, with approximately 471 skyscrapers in the city.
"We believe no country is immune to natural catastrophes, which are often unpredictable. We must learn from these events.
“Our thoughts and sympathies are with the families of the victims in Myanmar and Thailand; Malaysia must heed the lessons and act swiftly," he said.
Nga is currently leading the Malaysian delegation to Bangkok to attend the 81st Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (CS81) at the United Nations Conference Centre.
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is an intergovernmental platform in the Asia-Pacific region, comprising 53 member states and nine associate members.
As one of the United Nations’ five regional commissions, ESCAP promotes regional cooperation to address sustainable development challenges.
-- BERNAMA
