Malaysia, which has plans to build two nuclear power plants, will

take lessons from Japan after it was hit by radioactive leakage from a damaged nuclear power plant following a massive earthquake.

Asked whether Malaysia would review its nuclear programme in view of the Japanese experience, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was non-committal.

Instead, he said, the local agencies knew what they were doing and would do the best they could to ensure public safety.

NONE “I think that it’s something every country in the world, and not just Malaysia, is taking note of, about what’s happening in Japan,” he said.

“I’m sure that there are some lessons to be learnt, such as the safety of the country and the people.

"But our agencies know what they are doing and they are doing the best they can,” he said.

Journalists were unable to pose a follow up question because he was asked on the matter after his press conference in Putrajaya ended.

Following the magnitude 9 earthquake on the Richter scale off the  Japanese coast, three of its nuclear reactors in Fukushima, just 250km from Tokyo, are in crisis.

azlan Tens of thousands of people living near the plants are being evacuated following fears of a radiation leak.

Green Technology, Energy and Water Minister Peter Chin announced in last December that Malaysia plans to build two nuclear plants to generate 1,000 megawatts of electricity each, with the first plant to be ready for operation in 2021, and the second plant, a year later.

However, the Economic Transformation Programme timeline, announced in October last year, only said one plant would be built.

In the meantime, the Pakatan Rakyat governments of Selangor and Penang have announced that they would bar the construction of any nuclear power plant on their soil.

DPM ‘unsure’ of rare earth plant

On the rare earth refinery in Gebeng, Kuantan, Muhyiddin remains unsure if approval has been given for it.

“We have our regulations on environment and safety, so the agencies involved must study it thoroughly before any decision is made.

“But whether it has been approved or not, I’m not sure,” he told a press conference after an education ministry function in Putrajaya this morning.

NONE It was previously reported by the New York Times that Australian mining company Lynas Corporation has started construction on the world’s biggest rare earth refinery in Pahang, which is Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s home state.

The daily also wrote that Lynas has been given a one-year tax break, with an estimation that it could generate RM5 billion a year in exports starting late next year.

However, this sparked radiation fears since a similar rare earth plant in Bukit Merah, Perak, run by Japanese company Mitsubishi, which has since been closed, resulted in several cases of leukemia, cancer and birth deformities among nearby residents in the early 90s.

Mitsubishi is reported to be undertaking a stealthy but expensive RM100 million clean-up in the area.

Muhyiddin’s stance is ‘sheer arrogance’

In an immediate response, Selangor exco in charge of environment Elizabeth Wong expressed her disappointment over the federal government’s decision to proceed with its nuclear power plans.

NONE “Within the last 24 hours, governments as diverse as Germany, Switzerland and the Philippines have all suspended or reversed their nuclear plans. Taiwan has announced that it is reviewing all of its plants in light of the Japan disaster.

“Muhyiddin’s stance is not science and fact-based policy making - it is sheer arrogance. Approval should not precede assessment.”

Wong dismissed the pledge by the federal government that it will be transparent with its nuclear power project.

“We have already seen the government field-test genetically-modified mosquitoes last year and only inform the public one month after their release.

“The federal government needs to make up its mind. Which is more important: public safety or promises to their friends in business?”

She said there was no way to safeguard the well-being and health of Malaysians should Malaysia go ahead and build the nuclear power plants.

“Malaysia is set to become the world’s number three producer of solar cells while we have zero production capacity for nuclear. The federal government must start incorporating logic into its energy planning policies.”

Japan's nuclear morality tale