Structural control of Mesozoic orogens on SE Asia Basin opening

•Intrinsic relationship between Sundaland crustal inherited structures, and subsequent deformation through time since the Mesozoic.•The main rifting necking zones follow former sutures, and the direction of opening is perpendicular to them.•Counter Regional Normal Faults often reactivate former thrust faults and plutons boundaries.•Distal low angle normal faults mostly ocean dipping are dependant to the thermal state and boundary stress conditions.•Rifting of the Cenozoic basins was triggered and conditioned by the crustal collapse of Mesozoic orogens.