KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 (Bernama) -- Although Malaysia is free of earthquakes, 31 weak tremors were registered in the country since November 2007, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said some of these tremors, despite being of less than five points on the Richter scale, were felt by the people in the vicinity of the earth movements.

Twenty-nine of these tremors occurred in the Bukit Tinggi area of Pahang between November 2007 and May 2008 and 19 of these were felt by the people in the locality, he said when replying to a question from Datuk Ismail Abd Mutalib (BN-Maran).

Weak tremors were also felt by the people in Jerantut, Pahang, on March 27 this year and in Manjung, Perak, on April 29, he said.

"The magnitude of these tremors was recorded at between 1.8 and 3.5 on the Richter scale at a shallow depth of less than 100km. No deaths or damage to property were reported during these tremors," he said.

Dr Ongkili said the location of Malaysia close to the Pacific Ring of Fire (volcanic belt) resulted in the weak tremors when moderate and strong earthquakes occurred in the neighbouring countries.