The government plans to install the gamma spectrum water monitoring system in Langkawi, Johor, Pahang, and Sandakan, Sabah to monitor radioactivity levels in Malaysian waters, according to Chang Lih Kang, the Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister. He stated that this is in addition to the station already established at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) jetty at the end of June. Chang further added that the device in UMS is currently the only one in the country and that Malaysia is the third country in the ASEAN region, after Vietnam and Singapore, to have this device.
He mentioned that the installation of these systems in the other locations will be done in stages and as soon as possible. Each device costs approximately RM600,000. The decision to install these devices in Malaysian waters was made after considering the concerns among the public regarding radioactivity levels in the ocean, particularly following the release of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. Chang reassured the public that there is no need to worry, as any abnormal change in the radioactivity levels can be quickly detected by the system.
The minister also stated that Malaysia will share information with other ASEAN countries. UMS was selected as the first site for installing the device due to its distance from Hainan Island in China. Chang clarified that the device is not only intended for monitoring Fukushima but also to track radioactivity levels resulting from activities in China, Taiwan, and Korea.
Last Friday, the Department of Atomic Energy (Atom Malaysia) confirmed that there has been no increase in radioactivity levels in Malaysian waters after the Japanese government released treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. Atom Malaysia assured the public that they take the concerns seriously and closely monitor the situation. The gamma spectrum water monitoring station was established in collaboration with the European Union to monitor any increase in radioactivity levels in real-time. The National Centre for Nuclear Response Management (NCNRM) in Dengkil, Selangor monitors the data from the station around the clock.
Japan has faced criticism and food import bans from China, North Korea, and Hong Kong for not halting the discharge of water, but Japan maintains that its actions are safe.
Additionally, Chang expressed concern about the declining rate of students choosing to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects in Malaysia. He acknowledged that this trend could jeopardize Malaysia’s goal of becoming a high-tech nation by 2030. Chang stressed the importance of having a talent pool in these fields to attract industries and investments that focus on technology and innovation.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
