Nuklear Malaysia Intensifies Public Outreach To Dispel Nuclear Myths

By Amanina Mohamad Yusof

BANGI, Sept 7 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuklear Malaysia) is intensifying efforts to educate and engage the public to foster a better understanding of nuclear technology, particularly to dispel the perception that it is only associated with weapons or danger.

Nuklear Malaysia director-general Dr Muhammad Rawi Mohamed Zin said public advocacy and education are crucial to ensuring the community understands that nuclear technology is used safely and in a controlled manner across various daily applications, including medicine, agriculture, food, industry, manufacturing and the environment.

"Under the National Nuclear Technology Policy 2030 (DTNN 2030), one of Nuklear Malaysia's core responsibilities is to promote nuclear technology directly to the public to build awareness so people realise that nuclear technology is actually part of their everyday lives.

"We actively reach out to the community, both through our own initiatives and invitations from external parties, such as schools, to conduct talks, exhibitions and related activities," he told Bernama.

Muhammad Rawi said these efforts are executed through the Communication, Education and Public Acceptance (CEPA) approach to explain nuclear technology in simpler, more relatable terms.

"Public apprehension stems from a lack of information. That is why we developed the Nuclear Education Outreach (NEO) platform to translate technical nuclear jargon into rakyat-friendly language linked to daily life," he said.

Under the 'Nuklear Untuk Rakyat' (N.U.R) initiative, he said about 24 Nuclear Advocacy Programmes have been and will be implemented nationwide, targeting various segments of society.

He added that Nuklear Malaysia is tasked with carrying out three main initiatives: the 'Jelajah Nuklear' roadshow, 'N.U.R@Wanita', and 'Rakan Nuklear'.

"The Jelajah Nuklear roadshow exposes school students to the basics of nuclear technology and radiation safety through casual, interactive methods while sparking interest in STEM fields.

"The N.U.R@Wanita programme focuses on empowering women as agents of change and information communicators to raise awareness of the benefits of nuclear technology, while Rakan Nuklear connects classroom learning with real-life nuclear applications," he said.

He said public engagement must be stepped up because most people do not directly experience nuclear technology, even though they enjoy its benefits daily.

"For instance, in healthcare, patients interact with hospitals rather than nuclear technology directly. This is similar in other sectors, causing the public to sometimes be unaware that nuclear technology is close to them," he said.

According to him, public perception remains influenced by historical events like the Chernobyl reactor disaster in Ukraine and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, which left a lasting negative impression.

However, he said that modern reactor technology and design have undergone significant safety advancements, with historical incidents serving as the foundation for continuous improvements in design, regulation and safety protocols.

Muhammad Rawi emphasised that the development of nuclear technology, particularly research or power reactors, is subject to strict regulatory oversight under both domestic law and international standards.

He said the public should view nuclear technology not with fear, but as a tool for sustainable development with the potential to benefit the people, industry and the national economy.

"I like to explain it this way: we do not produce weapons or explosives. Nuclear technology uses the properties of atoms and radiation in a controlled, safe manner under strict safety standards regulated by the Department of Atomic Energy and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," he said, noting that Malaysia has never experienced a nuclear reactor accident.

He added that Nuklear Malaysia supports government efforts to evaluate alternative energy sources, including nuclear power generation, amid anticipated growth in electricity demand driven by economic expansion, industrialisation and data centre developments.

He said nuclear power is a low-carbon option capable of providing a stable, continuous electricity supply without relying on weather conditions like solar and wind power.

"Therefore, the government is considering all energy options to ensure the national power supply remains sustainable, safe and resilient, and Nuklear Malaysia stands ready to support this effort with our technical expertise," he said.

-- BERNAMA