Active Faults in Malaysia

ACTIVE FAULTS
IN MALAYSIA
Outline of Presentation
1. Introduction
2. Plate Movements Around Malaysia
3. Active Faults Around Malaysia
4. Active Faults in Malaysia
5. Concluding Remarks
Felix Tongkul
Natural Disaster Research Centre (NDRC)
Universiti Malaysia Sabah
Seminar on Design for Structures for Earthquake Resistance / Concorde Hotel, Shah Alam / 3 April 2019
1. Introduction
❖ Active faults are defined as linear areas where

ground movement occurs systematically and
continuously over a large area. Faults are
commonly considered to be active if there has been
movement observed or evidence of seismic activity
during the last 10,000 years (Holocene age). Active
faults provide concrete evidence that a region is
still undergoing tectonic stress.
❖ Active faults are potential source of earthquakes.

The larger the fault the bigger the earthquake
generated. Active faults thus plays a very crucial
role in the development of a Seismic Hazard Map.
1. Introduction
❖ Active faults may occur locally or regionally and
can both contribute to the seismicity of an area.
❖ When active faults has not been adequately

mapped (e.g. unknown slip rate movement) they
are referred to as potential active faults.
❖ In Malaysia, the surrounding regional active faults

(e.g. in Indonesia and Philippines) are well
documented. However, local active faults are yet
to be properly studied and documented. This is an
on-going research carried out by the Malaysian
Active Fault Study Group initiated by UMS in 2012
and now coordinated by Jabatan Mineral dan
Geosains Malaysia.
1. Introduction
Types of Faults
Horizontal Fault Normal Fault Reverse or Thrust Fault

(Strike-Slip Fault) (Dip-Slip Fault) (Dip-Slip Fault)
Oblique Fault
(Dip-Slip & Strike-Slip Fault)
1. Introduction
Geomorphic Recognition of Active Faults
1. Introduction
Normal Fault
Taiwan
1. Introduction
Thrust Fault
Taiwan
1. Introduction
Kundasang Road
Plate movement since 50 million
years ago based on magnetic
anomaly lineaments and
transform faults direction
Malaysia
Pacific Ocean
Indian Ocean
Eurasian Plate
Philippine Plate
Malaysia
Pacific Plate
Caroline Plate
Indian-Australian Plate
Plate Reconstruction Since 20 Ma by Robert Hall
Eurasian Plate
Philippine-Pacific Plate
Malaysia
Indian-Australian Plate
Antartic Plate
Current Tectonic Plates Motions Based on GPS
Bock et. al., 2003

Eurasian Plate
Philippine Plate
5 cm/yr
10 cm/yr
Pacific-Caroline
Plate
7 cm/yr
India-Australia
Plate
3. Plate Movements in Malaysia
Plate movements based on GPS Study
Clockwise motion of Peninsular Malaysia from 1994-2003 (Simons et al., 2007).

Aceh Earthquake, 2004
Before Aceh Earthquake, 1999-2001
Anti-clockwise Rotation
Nias Earthquake, 2008
Tectonic rebound occurred after the

2004 Aceh Earthquake – moving
Eastward then Westward
TECTONIC
Sumatra
REBOUND Malaya moving
Eastwards
Before 2004
Malaya moving
Westwards
After 2004
Thrust Faults and Strike-Slip Faults Dominates
Thrust Faults and Strike-Slip Faults Dominates
5 Major Ancient Fault Trends: N-S, NNW-SSE, NW-SE,
NNE-SSW and ENE-WSW – Source of Potential Active Faults
Ancient Faults Potential Active Faults
Mustaffa Kamal Shuib (2009) Ismail et al., (2015)
Yearly accumulated displacement (left) and total accumulated displacement (right)

at 5 Stations from May 2007 to Dec 2010 (Abdul Rahim Samsudin et al., 2014).
Different directions and rates of movement possibly associated with

reactivation of local faults due to the tectonic rebound after 2004
Ancient faults can be
potentially reactivated
due to regional active
plate movements
Earthquake Occurrences:
2007 - 2013
24 in Bukit Tinggi area

(1.7 to 4.2 Mb) - 2007 to 2009
1 in Jerantut
(3.2 Mb) - 2009
1 in Manjung
(2.8 Mb) - 2009
4 in Kuala Pilah
(2.6 to 3.2 Mb) - 2009
5 in Kenyir Dam
(4.1 Mb) - 1985 & 2010
1 in Mersing
(3.2 Mb) - 2012
1 in Baling?
(3.8 Mb) - 2013
Ancient faults can be
potentially reactivated
due to regional active
plate movements
Earthquake Occurrences:
2007 - 2013
24 in Bukit Tinggi area

(1.7 to 4.2 Mb) - 2007 to 2009
1 in Jerantut
(3.2 Mb) - 2009
1 in Manjung
(2.8 Mb) - 2009
4 in Kuala Pilah
(2.6 to 3.2 Mb) - 2009
5 in Kenyir Dam
(4.1 Mb) - 1985 & 2010
1 in Mersing
(3.2 Mb) - 2012
1 in Baling?
(3.8 Mb) - 2013
Temenggor Potential Active Fault Zone
Gerik
Lenggong
Kenyir Potential Active Fault Zone
RIS
Mag 2.7 - 4.6
1984 - 1987
Kuala Berang Regional

Tectonics
Mag 2.6 - 2.7
11/3/2010
23/2/2016
Bukit Tinggi-Bentong Potential Active Faults
IFSAR Images
Karak
Karak Fault Benus Fault Bukit Tinggi Fault

24
Kuala Pilah Potential Active Fault Zone
Mag 3.0 - 3.5

29-30 Nov 2009
Kuala Pilah
Ancient Faults in Sarawak – Source of Potential Active Faults
Strike-Slip Faults
Thrust Faults
Strike-Slip Faults
Sarawak Potential Active Faults
N-S Left Lateral Strike-Slip Tubau Fault Zone
M5.2 (2004/5/1)
M4.2 (2005/4/19)
M3.52 (2010/1/24)
WNW-ESE Right Lateral Strike-Slip Bukit Mersing Fault Zone
M4.7 (1994/2/19)
M5.3 (1994/2/12)
Ancient Faults of Sabah – Source of Potential Active Faults
Earthquake Distribution – Indicator of Active Fault Locations
Source: USGS Earthquake
Database (1900 – 2018)
Sabah Potential Active Faults
Kudat
Kota Belud
Kota Kinabalu Ranau

Sandakan
Tambunan Telupid
Keningau
Siptang
Lahad Datu
Sapulut
Kunak
Tawau
Sabah Potential Active Faults
Kudat
Kota Belud
Kundasang-Ranau
Fault Zones
Kota Kinabalu Ranau
Sandakan
Tambunan Telupid
Keningau
Siptang
Lahad Datu
Sapulut
Kunak
Lahad Datu-Kunak-
Tawau Fault Zones
Tawau
Kundasang – Ranau Potential Active Fault Zones
NE-SW Normal Lobou-Lobou Fault Zones Affecting Roads
2015
Normal fault Strike-slip fault

NE-SW Lobou-Lobou Normal Fault Zone Passing Through Kundasang Town
Responsible for the 2015 Mag 6 Ranau Earthquake
NW-SE Cross-sections
(A) Geophysical Survey at Kg. Chinta Mata
Fault Zone
(A)
(B) Kundasang (B) Geophysical Survey at Kg. Lembah Permai

Town Fault Zone
1 Km
Bailon (2017)
NE-SW Right Lateral Strike-slip Fault Affecting Road and Darin in Kundasang
Normal fault Strike-slip fault

NW-SE Left Lateral Strike-Slip Faults Affecting the Mesilou River in Kundasang
Mesilou
Quarry
38
NW-SE Left Lateral Strike-slip Fault Affecting Concrete Bridge in Ranau
Bridge
NE-SW Normal Faults at the Edge of the Ranau Plain
Lahad Datu – Kunak – Tawau Potential Active Fault Zones
SRTM image showing

prominent negative
lineaments, coinciding
with the locations of
earthquake epicentres
(yellow circle), mud
volcanoes (MV) and hot
springs (HS), which
could be active faults.
Three trends dominates,

NW-SE, NE-SW and
WNW-ESE representing
thrust faults, strike-slip
faults and normal faults.
NE-SW Strike-slip Fault and Mud Volcano in Lahad Datu Town
The fault movement
trending N65E has
caused a split in the
trunk of two coconut
trees.
NE-SW and NW-SE Strike Slip Faults Associated with Mud Volcanoes
Tomanggong Mud Volcanoes
Lipad Mud Volcano
NE-SW and NW-SE Strike Slip Faults Associated with Mud Volcanoes
Binuang Mud Volcanoes
NW-SE Strike-Slip Faults Associated with Hot Springs in Tawau
❑ Identification of active faults in Malaysia is still a

big challenge especially when ground movements
are very small and at a very slow rate.
❑ Thick vegetation cover coupled with thick

weathering profile often conceals ground
movement.
❑ The occurrence of ground instabilities due to

landslides further complicates the identification
of active faults.
❑ Further study using GPS to monitor the movement of
active faults may provide some indication on the slip
rates of these faults.
Horizontal Movement
Vertical Movement
❑ INSAR study over a period of time could also
mapped out minute ground movements associated
with the active faults.
InSAR Technology Pilot Study by Airbus in 2015
Trenching
❑ Geophysical study (e.g. Resistivity

and Ground Penetrating Radar)
and trenching to determine the
internal structures and paleo-
history of active faults
Resistivity
Acknowledgement
This work was supported by
Malaysian Active Faults Study Group
Thank You

Active Faults in Malaysia

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ACTIVE FAULTS

❖ Active faults are defined as linear areas where

❖ Active faults are potential source of earthquakes.

❖ When active faults has not been adequately

❖ In Malaysia, the surrounding regional active faults

Horizontal Fault Normal Fault Reverse or Thrust Fault

Bock et. al., 2003

Clockwise motion of Peninsular Malaysia from 1994-2003 (Simons et al., 2007).

Nias Earthquake, 2008

Tectonic rebound occurred after the

Yearly accumulated displacement (left) and total accumulated displacement (right)

Different directions and rates of movement possibly associated with

24 in Bukit Tinggi area

24 in Bukit Tinggi area

Kuala Berang Regional

Karak Fault Benus Fault Bukit Tinggi Fault

Mag 3.0 - 3.5

Kota Kinabalu Ranau

Normal fault Strike-slip fault

(B) Kundasang (B) Geophysical Survey at Kg. Lembah Permai

Normal fault Strike-slip fault

SRTM image showing

Three trends dominates,

Lipad Mud Volcano

❑ Identification of active faults in Malaysia is still a

❑ Thick vegetation cover coupled with thick

❑ The occurrence of ground instabilities due to

InSAR Technology Pilot Study by Airbus in 2015

❑ Geophysical study (e.g. Resistivity

Malaysian Active Faults Study Group

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