By Rohani Mohd Ibrahim
KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Bernama) -- The United Kingdom (UK) is keen to cooperate with Malaysia in the energy sector, particularly in the development of a civil nuclear hub for the Southeast Asia region, British High Commissioner to Malaysia Ajay Sharma said.
He said all parties should consider developing such energy so that Malaysia and the region will be better prepared should the current global energy crisis recur in the future.
“This (civil nuclear) will help (address the energy crisis). You will not be so dependent on oil and gas coming from West Asia if you have your own civil nuclear energy,” he told Bernama when met after speaking at the English-Speaking Union Malaysia (ESUM) Tea Talk 2026 on Language and Diplomacy here on Thursday.
The event was attended by ESUM chairman Tunku Dara Tunku Naquiah and ESUM council member Datuk Seri Azman Ujang.
According to Sharma, he would like the UK to work with Malaysia on the development of small modular reactors, which can be used to provide not only energy for Malaysia’s industry but also enable the country to become a production hub for such reactors in the region.
“I see Malaysia-UK cooperation on civil nuclear as beneficial not only for Malaysia’s energy needs and industrial development, but also in supporting the economic development and energy needs of the ASEAN region.
“So Malaysia can be a hub for ASEAN in civil nuclear,” he said, adding that civil nuclear talks between the UK and Malaysia are at a preliminary stage.
“No decisions have been taken by either side, but this is something we (UK) want to pursue with Malaysia,” he added.
-- BERNAMA
