The people of Sabah, especially those in Lahad Datu, are advised to not panic or speculate claims of an imminent ‘big earthquake’ in the area and its surroundings.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Natural Disaster Research Center (PKBA) head Prof Dr Kawi Dugan said residents should remain vigilant and obtain the right information from the agency which monitors earthquakes in the country.

“PKBA along with other government agencies are ready to help provide expert assistance through education and awareness seminars on the dangers of earthquakes in Sabah, as a preliminary measure,” he said in a statement Wednesday.

He was commenting on a series of small-magnitude earthquakes off the coast of Teluk Darvel near the town of Lahad Datu, Sabah on Feb 16, March 1 and 4, which were deemed to be natural occurrences for the release of seismic energy stored on a small scale in the area.

The incidents went viral on social media with speculation that there will be a larger earthquake in the area, probably comparable to or stronger than the earthquake at Mount Kinabalu on June 5, 2015, raising the concern of the population in and around Lahad Datu.

Kawi said based on the current scientific studies, records and facts on earthquakes, it was still not possible for experts to exactly forecast the occurrence of an earthquake.

On March 4th, geologist Prof Dr Felix Tongkul, also from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), advised residents around Lahad Datu to be on the alert to face any possibility of a bigger earthquake occurring.

“This incident may lead to two possibilities, one is the release of seismic energy stored on a small scale in the area and if this continues it can prevent the release of greater energy in the future.

“The second possibility is that it is a marker for a bigger earthquake. The small tremors are referred to as preliminary earthquake (fore-shock). This means the preliminary earthquake can happen a few days or several weeks before a major earthquake occurs… whatever the possibility, residents around Lahad Datu are advised to be vigilant,” he said

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Meteorological Department in a statement shared the same views with Felix.

“We need to be alert to the second possibility raised by Felix…where a stronger earthquake of up to 6.0 on the Richter scale can occur as we had highlighted before, after the earthquake in Ranau (last June),” it said.

File pic of Jacel Kiram in one of her speeches on the Sabah claim

Princess Jacel Kiram has a short and sweet message to Malaysian media who tagged her as a “terrorist” for trying to renew Philippine claims over Sabah.

“Malaysian newspapers labelled me as a ‘Princess Terrorist’. They are even asking our government why I’m allowed to run for a government office,” Jacel said in an interview on ANC Headstart Tuesday, March 8.

Jacel is running for senator under the ticket of United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard-bearer, Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“It’s funny I’m being labelled as a terrorist. I’m not a terrorist. I’m just fighting for what is legally, historically ours,” she said, referring to the state of Sabah, formerly called north Borneo.

Jacel’s late father, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, was a claimant ruler to the Sultanate of Sulu which insists having control over Sabah. The elder Kiram died in October 2013.

Sabah is now formally part of Malaysia, which is why it’s media has resorted to name-calling against the “princess” of the opposition slate.

Princess Jacel Kiram said that Sabah’s annual income of $72 billion is equivalent to 100 million sacks of rice each month.This alone is reason enough for the Philippines to reclaim Sabah, she added.

Last year, Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s ( PKR) Vice-President Nurul Izzah Anwar, daughter of jailed Anwar Ibrahim, was seen pictured together with Jacel Kiram in Manila, both armed with placards calling for the released of Anwar Ibrahim.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun says Sabah Police will focus on intelligence and enforcement activities to curb criminal threats and keep the state safe.

“I cannot reveal much about what was said by the deputy prime minister (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) but believe me, we are not standing still and will strive to keep Sabah safe.

“Let us do our job,” he told a press conference after visiting the Kinabatangan District Police Headquarters,in Sandakan.

On March 5, Ahmad Zahid reportedly said that the threats to national security which formerly rampant in eastern Sabah had spread to the west coast areas.

Abdul Rashid said the police have the best officers who were willing to sacrifice their energy and time for Sabah, although many are not from the state.