Abstract. Seismic hazard assessments, both deterministic and probabilistic, for
Peninsular Malaysia have been carried out using peak ground acceleration
(PGA) data recorded between 2004 and 2016 by the Malaysian Meteorological
Department using triaxial accelerometers placed at 19 seismic stations on
the peninsula. Seismicity source modelling for the deterministic seismic
hazard assessment (DSHA) used historical point sources whereas in the
probabilistic (PSHA) approach, line and areal sources were used. The
earthquake sources comprised the Sumatran subduction zone (SSZ), Sumatran
fault zone (SFZ) and local intraplate (LI) faults. Gutenberg–Richter law
b value for the various zones identified within the SSZ ranged between 0.56
and 1.06 (mean=0.82) and for the zones within the SFZ, between 0.57 and
1.03 (mean=0.89). Suitable ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs) for
Peninsular Malaysia along with other pertinent information were used for
constructing a logic tree for PSHA of the region. The DSHA “critical-worst”
scenario suggests PGAs of 0.07–0.80 ms−2 (0.7–8.2 percent g),
whilst the PSHA suggests mean PGAs of 0.11–0.55 ms−2 (0.5–5.4
percent g) and 0.20–1.02 ms−2 (1.9–10.1 percent g) at 10 % and
2 % probability of exceedance in 50 years, respectively. DSHA and
PSHA, despite using different source models and methodologies, both conclude that
the central-western cities of Peninsular Malaysia, located between
2 and 4∘ N, are most susceptible to high PGAs, due to
neighbouring active Sumatran sources, SFZ and SSZ. Of the two Sumatran
sources, surprisingly, the relatively less active SFZ source with low
magnitude seismicity appeared as the major contributor due to its proximity.
However, potential hazards due to SSZ mega-earthquakes should not be dismissed. Finally,
DSHA performed using the limited LI seismic data from the
Bukit Tinggi fault at a reasonable moment magnitude (Mw) value of 5.0
predicted a PGA of ∼0.40 ms−2 at Kuala Lumpur.