Asia-Pacific

Malaysia urged to reconsider plan for nuke plant

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-14 18:44
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KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), the second largest party in Malaysia's federal ruling coalition, called on the government on Monday to study if a nuclear power plant is necessary for the country.

Chua Soi Lek, MCA president, told reporters that nuclear plant construction was something new in Malaysia, and given nuclear crisis following the massive earthquake-triggered tsunami in Japan, the Malaysian government should reconsider if there was a real necessity for it.

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Chua said the threats confronting the Japanese nuclear plants had alerted the whole world about the danger of such a plant, and the Malaysian government should take into account these risks when deciding on the construction of the plant.

"Although we don't have earthquake and severe floods, any nuclear plant in coastal areas seems to be dangerous," Chua said.

According to Kyodo news agency, the radiation level at the quake-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant No. 1 has again exceeded the legal limit.

Fukushima No 1 nuclear plant has been shut down since the devastating magnitude-9 quake struck northeastern Japan on Friday, but some of its reactors have lost their cooling functions.

The No 3 reactor at the plant exploded on Monday, the second hydrogen explosion after a blast at No 1 reactor on Saturday, triggering public panic. The number of individuals exposed to radiation from the incident could reach 70 to 160, an official of Japan's nuclear safety agency said.

However, Malaysian Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui said On Sunday that the leakage of radiation in the Japanese nuclear plant would not affect Malaysia's plan to build one of its own.

Chin said Malaysia's first nuclear power plant was expected to operate in 2021, which is 10 years from now.

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