Malaysian federal agency: If Pakistan, Romania can have nuclear energy, why can’t Malaysia?

KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysia Nuclear Power Corporation (MNPC), which is looking to build the country’s first nuclear power plant, has questioned public objections to the project when less developed countries already have nuclear energy.

MNPC chief executive officer Dr Mohd Zamzam Jaafar pointed out that nations behind Malaysia in terms of technology and economic status like Romania and Pakistan have been running nuclear power plants without major incidents.

“These countries are not as industrialised as the three big countries, but still able to operate plants smoothly. Some are less developed than we are,” Dr Zamzam told Malay Mail Online in a recent interview.

“That means if a nuclear power plant can be operated properly by less developed countries, why should we have a problem here?” he asked.

South Africa, Argentina and Brazil too have been operating similar plants smoothly, unlike developed countries like Japan, Russia and the United States that have suffered nuclear accidents, he said.

MNPC was formed under the government’s Economic Transformation Programme and acts as a Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organisation following the recommendations made by the International Atomic Energy Agency as Malaysia looks to implement nuclear energy.

However, the programme which the government aims to implement around 2025, has come under public criticism over the dangers of nuclear power, following major nuclear disasters in the US’ Three Mile Island in 1979, Chernobyl in Ukraine in 1986 (then part of the former Soviet Union) and Fukushima in Japan four years ago.

Dr Zamzam dismissed concerns over building nuclear power plants in a country where several government construction projects have suffered building flaws, citing state oil giant Petronas as an example of an internationally recognised local company.

“We always say Malaysia has poor maintenance culture, but doesn’t mean everything does not work here. We have the internet, electricity and world class fuel systems here.

“When it comes to nuclear energy, we will look at safety issues and make it as tight as possible. Most importantly people must trust our regulators, they must have confidence in them. We shouldn’t degrade our own people. We should have more faith in Malaysians,” he said.

Putrajaya plans to table the Atomic Energy Regulatory Bill in Parliament by this year in order to get the project underway by 2021, said Dr Zamzam.

“After the Bill is tabled in Parliament, first thing we want to do is organise a forum where we call in people from every side, those supporting and against. We want to have an intellectual discussion and listen to everyone on their points. We have to educate the public.”

He added that much public engagement is necessary before progressing with the nuclear power project tabled in the government’s 11th Malaysia Plan that says an independent atomic energy regulatory commission will be established based on a nuclear law for electricity generation.

“Most important is to convince the local people, where the site is going to be built. Even if we cannot convince the whole country to support it, the people in the area must know the benefits.”

However, Dr Zamzam clarified that he does not know how much public approval Putrajaya expects for the nuclear power plant project, saying: “If they want 100 per cent support, we might not have nuclear at all.”

Dr Zamzam said MNPC is engaging with experts from countries that are well-versed with nuclear energy.

“We are bringing in people from all over the world to engage with them on going about the power plant. We are also making trips to power plant sites being built to see how it’s being done and if a similar process can be made here.”

The government was reported as early as December 2010 to have intentions of building two nuclear power plants.

However, the project initially aimed to be completed by 2021 and 2022 was postponed as the Fukushima nuclear reactor meltdown in Japan made the public uneasy. MALAY MAIL ONLINE