By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, March 31: There are no reports so far of Sarawakians being affected by the recent earthquake that struck Myanmar, according to Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Speaking to reporters during the ‘Majlis Rumah Terbuka Hari Raya Aidilfitri Premier Sarawak 2025’ held today at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), Abang Johari said he had not received any information indicating that any Sarawakian citizens were among the victims.
However, he assured that the State government stands ready to act should any Sarawakians be found to be impacted by the disaster.
“At the moment, I have no information. From what I understand, no Sarawakians are affected.
“If there are any, we will get in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Malaysia has already sent a Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart) to Myanmar.
“If any citizens are affected, I believe the Malaysian embassy would have the data. In that case, we will coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to bring them home. But so far, I have no data,” he said.
The earthquake, which also affected neighbouring Thailand, has raised concerns due to its location outside the traditional seismic ‘Ring of Fire’.
The Premier expressed his concern over the unusual tectonic activity and suggested it may be linked to the ongoing impacts of climate change.
“I find it puzzling because Myanmar and Thailand are outside the Ring of Fire, yet it happened—this means there must be some sort of tectonic or geological disturbance. Hopefully, the scientists can study this so we know where we stand on the matter.”
Abang Johari also highlighted the increasing frequency of natural calamities in the region, citing recent floods in Sarawak and a similar situation in Aceh, Indonesia.
“We didn’t expect Myanmar to experience this (earthquake), and here we have floods, which means environmental issues are serious.
“Because no matter how we try to solve flooding, we must consider the current climate conditions.
“It’s not just regular rainfall during the rainy season—this is something we need to take into account,” he said.
Reiterating Sarawak’s commitment to environmental protection, the Premier said the State’s sustainability policies are part of a broader strategy to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect its people from unforeseen natural threats.
According to the New Straits Times, a total of 50 Smart team members were deployed to Yangon to support humanitarian aid and disaster management efforts following the earthquake in Myanmar.
The team specialises in locating and rescuing victims trapped under rubble, using specialised equipment and techniques such as cutting and breaking, shoring, and rope rescue. — DayakDaily
