Segamat: Fifteen government buildings have been identified as having sustained minor damage, with repair costs estimated at RM550,500, following a weak earthquake that affected the district from August 24 to 30. Deputy Minister of Works Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan shared this information during a press conference.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Segamat Public Works Department (JKR) conducted an inspection as of September 3, revealing that the affected buildings include Segamat Hospital, Bandar Putra Health Clinic, Segamat Community College, the District Kadi Office, various schools, and government quarters. The buildings exhibited an increase in existing cracks due to the earthquake tremors, although the damage does not compromise the structural integrity of the buildings. The buildings remain safe for use, and users have been advised to monitor conditions and report any changes to the Public Works Department.

Ahmad Maslan announced that repair work will be funded through allocations from the relevant ministries, with the Public Works Department providing technical support to ensure a seamless process. The JKR Disaster Operations Room has been operational 24 hours a day since the first tremor on August 24 to monitor the situation closely.

Inspections have confirmed that roads and bridges remain undamaged, with monitoring conducted over 325 kilometers of federal roads, 242.11 kilometers of state roads, and 71 bridges and flyovers within the earthquake radius. Ahmad highlighted that since the enforcement of the MS EN 1998 National Annex in September 2017, seismic factors have been considered in the design of government buildings and bridges. New constructions under the 12th Malaysia Plan use high-quality materials and are designed based on the seismicity level of their locations.

Additionally, the Segamat District Office received 62 reports of minor damage to private homes and two suraus, though the financial loss estimate has not yet been finalized.