RANAU, April 21 — A weak earthquake measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale struck Kundasang at 3.02am today, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

The quake, centred about 8km northwest of Ranau at a depth of 10km, may have caused light tremors in surrounding areas.

Authorities are monitoring the situation and have urged those who felt the tremors to submit feedback via the MetMalaysia website.

Ranau Fire and Rescue Station chief PPgB Rantey Fred said no reports of damage or casualties have been received with conditions remaining under control following monitoring in Kundasang and Ranau.

Residents are advised to stay alert, move to open areas during tremors, avoid panic, and report any emergencies to authorities via 999 or the Ranau fire department hotline. — Daily Express

SANDAKAN, April 21 — The state government has channelled immediate assistance to victims of Sunday’s pre-dawn fire in Kampung Bahagia, Batu Sapi, which destroyed nearly 1,000 houses and made some 9,000 people homeless.

As initial assistance, each Household Head (KIR) received RM2,000 comprising RM1,000 in special aid from the State Government and RM1,000 from Yayasan Kebajikan Sabah.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the state government deeply sympathised with the plight of those affected, which he said was one of the largest incidents involving the settlement.

 “Today I went to the site to assess the situation. We hope this assistance will help ease their burden at this time,” he said. In addition, Pusat Zakat Sabah and Perbadanan Baitulmal Sabah also contributed aid.

Hajiji said the level of destruction in the area was extensive, with almost the entire village completely destroyed. He said a detailed report on the actual number of victims is expected in one to two weeks.

On redevelopment plans, Hajiji said the state government is studying several proposals, including land reclamation for housing development, which is expected to involve substantial cost.

“We will first receive the report from the Sandakan District Disaster Management Committee on their alternative proposals. 

From there, we will take the necessary action,” he said. Hajiji also said six temporary evacuation centres (PPS) have been opened.

Accompanying Hajiji were State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif; State Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Julita Majungki; Deputy Human Resources Minister and

Batu Sapi Member of Parliament, Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan; State Secretary, Datuk Seri Safar Untong; Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Maijol Mahap; Secretary of Internal Affairs and Research,

Chief Minister’s Department Datuk Ag Shahminan Datuk Ag Sahari and Director of Yayasan Kebajikan Sabah Datuk Hajah Diyanah Abdullah. — Daily Express

State tourism, culture, environment and climate change committee chairman Razali Idris said the strongest possible action must be taken against the ship responsible for the spill, which stretches for 3km along the beach.

“If necessary, we will seize the ship,” Bernama reported him as saying after inspecting the oil spill today. He said it is one of 20 ships currently docked at the Kemaman supply base.

Razali said the department’s team is analysing samples of the oil, believed to have spilled during maintenance work on the ship.

He said the Kemaman Municipal Council has been cleaning the beach since yesterday, with work to continue periodically until the residue is completely removed.

Terengganu environment department director Hamzah Mohamad previously said his department received a report about the pollution at the beach on Monday.

He said inspections of the site found hundreds of dead fish, squid and crabs.

DUNGUN: Perbuatan pembakaran terbuka yang tidak terkawal oleh individu tidak bertanggungjawab dipercayai menjadi punca kebakaran kira-kira 20 hektar kawasan hutan paya gambut di Kampung Rhu Batil, di sini, terbakar sejak Sabtu lalu.

Sehingga petang ini, pasukan bomba dan penyelamat dapat memadam sebanyak 11 hektar kawasan yang terbakar.

Ketua Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat Dungun, Penolong Kanan Penguasa Bomba II, Yahaya Hanafi berkata, pasukan bomba bertungkus-lumus memastikan api tidak merebak ke kawasan hutan simpan berhampiran dan perkampungan penduduk.

“Kita tidak menolak kebakaran ini berpunca daripada aktiviti pembakaran terbuka yang tidak terkawal.

“Kita berdepan dengan beberapa kesukaran untuk memadam kebakaran ini berikutan faktor cuaca panas dan kering mempercepat penyebaran api,” katanya ketika ditemui pemberita di lokasi kejadian.

Menurut Yahaya, keadaan tanah yang lembut menyukarkan akses logistik ke lokasi kebakaran dan komposisi tanah gambut memudahkan pembakaran berlaku di bawah tanah.