NUKLEAR MALAYSIA MOVES TO ADDRESS PUBLIC STIGMA OVER NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY

By Thivyamalini Ramalu

BANGI, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Nuclear technology in Malaysia needs to advance not only in technical aspects but also through greater public understanding and acceptance of its benefits so it can bring a positive impact to the country’s social, economic and environmental development.

Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuklear Malaysia) director-general Dr Muhammad Rawi Mohamed Zin said the agency’s focus is to ensure that nuclear technology continues to progress and deliver tangible benefits to the people.

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“We hope people can experience its presence even without realising it,” he told Bernama recently.

He said that, unlike other technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) or electric vehicles, which have been quickly accepted by society, nuclear technology still faces challenges in terms of public perception.

“When we talk about AI or IoT, everyone recognises and feels their impact. But why hasn’t nuclear technology reached that level of acceptance? Why are other technologies embraced so readily, but not nuclear?” he said.

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Muhammad Rawi said the stigma surrounding nuclear technology often stems from historical associations such as the Hiroshima and Fukushima incidents, even though the technology is now much safer and widely applied across various sectors.

“The Japanese people have benefited from this technology even though history tells us that Japan suffered the most from nuclear explosions. However, they did not abandon the technology but continued to progress with other advanced technologies,” he said.

He said the key challenges in developing nuclear energy in Malaysia can be divided into two categories, namely general challenges involving high construction costs, which can reach tens of billions of ringgit, and long development timelines, as well as specific challenges concerning public acceptance.

To address perception issues, he said a special task force has been set up to conduct systematic outreach programmes to listen to public concerns and explain the benefits of nuclear technology.

“The development of nuclear energy also requires an adequate local workforce of professionals and industry players.

“Besides identifying and training them early, related industries must also be developed as a complete ecosystem aligned with the national nuclear energy programme,” he said.

The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry have been mandated to develop the legal and regulatory framework for implementing nuclear energy in the country.

Malaysia is also a signatory to international treaties, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

“In the event of any nuclear explosion or test abroad, the Radionuclide Monitoring Station (RN42) in Cameron Highlands, operated by CTBT and Nuklear Malaysia, will immediately detect it,” he said.

Muhammad Rawi also stressed that all applications of nuclear technology in Malaysia must comply with stringent safety laws and procedures.

He cited the use of radioisotopes in medicine, which has helped treat thousands of cancer patients annually, and the use of nuclear gauges in the oil and gas industry, which are operated only by licensed personnel.

“Although radiation is involved, all these applications are managed by trained experts in controlled environments. This proves that nuclear technology can be used safely and bring significant benefits to society,” he added.

-- BERNAMA