6.5-magnitude quake hits east of Philippine islands
An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 jolted east of the Philippine Islands at 01:58:08 GMT on Tuesday.
24 Jun 2025 10:55am
An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 jolted east of the Philippine Islands at 01:58:08 GMT on Tuesday. - AFP file photo
HONG KONG - An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 jolted east of the Philippine Islands at 01:58:08 GMT on Tuesday, the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said.
The epicentre, with a depth of 10.0 km, was initially determined to be at 7.97 degrees north latitude and 129.83 degrees east longitude. - BERNAMA-XINHUA
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An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 jolted east of the Philippine Islands at 01:58:08 GMT on Tuesday. 24 Jun 2025 10:55am An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 jolted east of the Philippine Islands at 01:58:08 GMT on Tuesday. - AFP file photo HONG KONG - An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 jolted east of the Philippine Islands at 01:58:08 GMT on Tuesday, the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said. The epicentre, with a depth of 10.0 km, was initially determined to be at 7.97 degrees north latitude and 129.83 degrees east longitude. - BERNAMA-XINHUA
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A s night falls, Isham Romli opens the windows of her ninth-floor flat to cool down the interior of her home. Residing in Block A of the Lembah Subang 1 People's Housing Project (PPR), Selangor, Isham is forced to close all the windows at 10 am due to the extreme heat in the Klang Valley, where daily temperatures have been reaching 35 to 40 degrees Celsius. 'Sometimes, if it's not too hot, I leave the windows open during the day, especially when there's a strong wind blowing. But I can't open them too wide, otherwise light items in the living room will get blown around. 'I'd like to leave my front door open as well to let more air in, but since my unit faces the staircase and a lot of people pass by, I prefer to keep it shut,' she told Bernama. To avoid being stuck indoors in her 650-square-foot (sq ft) unit all day, Isham, 62, participates in various community activities at the PPR, including running sewing workshops for residents, especially housewives. 'Rather than being cooped up at home in the sweltering heat, the women are encouraged to join our sewing workshops, which also help them generate extra income,' she said. The situation is somewhat different for private sector employee Siti Nuraisyah Abdul Hamid, 35, who rents a unit on the top floor of a six-storey apartment block in Section 2, Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur. 'The flat I live in is over 30 years old, so its design includes a spacious balcony and plenty of windows, which help with air circulation even when the weather is hot. 'So if I'm home all day, especially while working from home, I don't feel too warm because, in addition to opening the windows, I've decorated my living room and balcony with greenery to provide a cooler and more comfortable environment for everyone in the house,' she said. 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Malaysian Institute of Architects Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) chairman Axxu Hoi Jung Wai said poor ventilation and heat entrapment are common issues in Malaysia's low-cost housing sector, particularly in PPR and other affordable housing developments. 'Low-cost units are usually very compact… the rooms are small and in many cases, there isn't even space to fit a washing machine in the yard. These cramped designs lead to overcrowding and poor air circulation,' he told Bernama recently. He said many affordable housing projects today adopt monotonous, high-efficiency layouts like double corridors with minimal windows and no courtyards, reducing opportunities for natural ventilation and light. 'You'll notice that when you visit most low-cost flats, there's often a lingering smell while the air is stuffy due to inadequate airflow,' he added. Hoi, who is also the managing partner and practicing architect at Axial Design Architects Sdn Bhd, said poor ventilation is not just a by-product of affordability but also a sign of unsustainable design practices. 'In many units, air conditioning becomes a necessity, not a choice. That's not sustainable at all,' he said, referring to the heat build-up in these units, especially during the hot season. Citing older flats like Happy Mansion in Petaling Jaya, Hoi said older designs tend to perform better in terms of ventilation and sustainability. 'Back then, buildings had features like louvered windows, cross-ventilation single-loaded corridors and functional yard spaces but today, such elements have been lost to faster and cheaper construction methods,' he said. CLIMATE-BASED APPROACH As the impacts of climate change become increasingly evident, more people are thinking about how well their homes can cope with intensifying flooding events, hotter weather and prolonged droughts. According to Hoi, the rising demand for affordable housing should compel the government to lead the way in building homes that are not only cost-efficient but also climate-responsive and comfortable for long-term living. He urged the government and developers to consider a climate-based approach, which integrates detailed environmental analysis into the early design phase to enhance the liveability of affordable homes without significantly increasing costs. He recommends that sun path and shadow analysis be conducted to ensure that the lower floors receive adequate daylight, as well as avoid the issue of having dark, stuffy interiors caused by densely packed buildings. 'Such analysis can guide better placement of structures and identify optimal areas for playgrounds and green spaces that remain cool and usable throughout the day. 'Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can also be used to study wind flow and improve natural ventilation between buildings to create tunnel effects that enhance airflow and reduce heat build-up,' he said. His other recommendations include conducting daylight analysis to identify dark zones in corridors or shared areas and reduce reliance on artificial lighting, improving both comfort and energy efficiency. Developers integrating these simple but impactful climate strategies could set new standards for affordable living, offering homes that are not just accessible but also sustainable, comfortable and future-ready, added Hoi. 'While keeping costs low is important, we can still prioritise liveability and comfort. 'Sustainable designs shouldn't be seen as a luxury — it can and should be integrated into affordable housing to improve residents' quality of life.' PRIORITISE CLIMATE RESILIENCE As climate threats such as extreme heat and flooding intensify across Malaysia, building affordable homes that are not only accessible but also liveable and climate resilient is becoming increasingly urgent, said Rose Afrina Mansor, climate resilience manager at Think City, an impact organisation focused on improving the liveability, sustainability and inclusivity of cities. She stressed that affordable housing must be designed to withstand environmental pressures without compromising comfort or dignity. Importantly, she noted, climate resilience does not have to come at a high cost. With the right planning, cost-effective strategies can be integrated into housing design to improve both sustainability and long-term affordability. She said while tools like the Green Building Index (GBI) promote green construction, they remain voluntary and are often seen as added costs in the context of low-income housing. To address this, the government has introduced measures such as a 50 percent reduction in registration fees for affordable housing projects, supporting its push for more liveable and sustainable public housing. To move beyond policy into practice, Rose Afrina said climate resilience can be effectively achieved through the integration of nature-based solutions (NbS) into housing design. Approaches such as rain gardens, rooftop and podium greening, pervious paving, and urban tree planting can help manage flood and heat risks while improving thermal comfort and reducing energy use. When embedded from the outset, these measures can make affordable homes more climate-ready and comfortable without compromising their accessibility or affordability. Rose Afrina pointed to Malaysia's first urban climate adaptation initiative, the Nature-based Climate Adaptation Programme for Urban Areas of Penang Island, as an example of cost-effective intervention. 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Malaysia Association of Energy Service Companies president Zulkifli Zahari said much of the discomforts experienced by low-cost housing residents stems from not incorporating passive design attributes which contribute to the energy-efficient design of the building at the very beginning. 'Passive design elements are crucial. Things like building orientation, window shading, roof insulation, natural ventilation, and even building materials and colours all impact how much heat the building retains. 'When you get these right, you reduce the need for active cooling like air-conditioning or reduce the energy consumption of air-conditioners,' he told Bernama. Zulkifli suggested that the government introduce targeted incentives for developers that use sustainable materials or energy-efficient attributes in low-cost housing, whether in the form of rebates or subsidies if the project can justify its energy-saving components. 'One of the good opportunities lies in solar energy which can reduce electricity costs in common areas like corridors or community spaces as well as reduce or minimise management fees. 'If there's a government-backed programme to equip low-cost housing with solar panels, it could ease the burden on residents,' he said. Zulkifli said with the electricity tariffs expected to be adjusted on a monthly basis from July 2025 onwards and climate conditions becoming more extreme, it is time to reimagine affordable housing as climate-resilient, energy-conscious and future-ready. 'It is possible… it's not about making things expensive but about designing consciously and providing support where it's needed,' he said. According to the Energy Commission (EC), electricity tariffs in Peninsular Malaysia will be adjusted on a monthly basis starting July, instead of twice a year, until December 2027. 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