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Saturday, June 18, 2011

No radioactive outside factory, says Ongkili

The radioactive leak scare is confined to the pharmaceutical factory and does not endanger the public, Minister assures.

PUTRAJAYA: No Fluorine-18 radioactive was detected outside the premise of a radio pharmaceutical manufacturer sealed following a radiation leak.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili said the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) sealed the factory after four employees were exposed to radiation.

“No radioactive was detected in the main office and other employees were not exposed to cross exposure by the four,” he told reporters.

On June 2, AELB found that four employees had readings of 30,000-50,000 per minute, 400 times higher than the normal reading.

Ongkili said Fluorine-18 has a short half-life of 110 minutes and radiation readings will return to normal level after 20 hours.

“As such, it will not pose radiation risk to the exposed employees, the public and environment.”

He said the company based in Selangor had appealed for removal of the seal order as it had complied with requirements and made improvements.

On Thursday several opposition members of parliament raised their concern over the issue after Ongkili admitted in Parliament that radioactive contamination had been detected around the Subang-Kelana Jaya area in Selangor.

Subang MP R Sivarasa raised their concern over the lack of information given out by the federal government so far over the incident.

“All the details that we have now is that it is a pharmaceutical company; there was a leak and it is now sealed,” he had said.

Meanwhile, Sivarasa when contacted said the opposition MPs, while appreciating the minister’s explanation, it should have come sooner “to prevent unhealthy speculation.”

“The Minister should have acted immediately to avoid unwanted speculation. When there is an issue or outbreak the minister concerned should act fast to allay fears,” he added.

He said although Ongkili has clarified the matter, there were still elements which needed explanation.

“He had mentioned that four workers were exposed to radiation. What are their condition now? What is happening to them? Why did the leak happen in the first place…there are many questions to be answered,” he added.

- Bernama

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