Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari told the State Legislative Assembly today that the state is expected to begin adopting nuclear energy as a clean power source in five years. In response to a query by Mariam Abdul Rashid (PH-Meru) on Selangor’s plans and timeline for nuclear-based energy, Amirudin said the state is still in the early stages of exploring the technology, which includes building up technical expertise.
“The earliest would be in about five years,” the Menteri Besar said. “Right now, we’re focused on capacity-building, including sending officers trained in nuclear-related fields (overseas).”
He added that the state will also consult local universities to explore possible collaborations. Several institutions, including Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, are being considered.
Amirudin noted that nuclear studies remain underdeveloped in Malaysia and that the country is sending some students abroad to gain exposure. He said he has personally met students at Tsinghua University in China who are pursuing the field independently because nuclear energy is still seen here as a “sin sector” and not fit for exploration.
“But the future demands preparedness,” he said. “We cannot rely solely on fossil fuels like gas and coal, which are less sustainable compared to nuclear energy.”
Amirudin also highlighted that safety, potential leak risks and public perception remain key issues that must be clearly addressed. He added that Germany’s experience with nuclear power offers valuable lessons for Malaysia.
(Source: Bernama)
