Scientific knowledge, radioactive waste - Dr M explains anti-nuclear stance

Putrajaya had been mulling the use of nuclear energy with a view to building a power plant after 2030 but the plan was promptly abandoned after Pakatan Harapan under Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad took over the federal government.

Explaining his aversion to using nuclear energy in Malaysia, Mahathir said he was concerned that Malaysians did not have sufficient scientific knowledge to manage a nuclear power plant and also to deal with its waste.

Speaking at a dialogue with the Malaysian French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFM) in Cyberjaya today, he said Malaysia will only consider nuclear energy if the fission process by which radioactive waste is produced can be reversed.

"Our knowledge of that science is not adequate, you don't know how to dispose of the waste.

"If you have a nuclear power plant, you will accumulate nuclear waste which is radioactive. Until now, they do not know how to reverse the process.

"That is why we cannot use nuclear material because it stays on for millions of years," he said.

Mahathir said Malaysia does not want the country to be littered with radioactive waste which will affect people's lives.

"That is why, until we discover a way of reversing the process, we should not use nuclear material," he said.

Nuclear energy accounts for the majority of energy production in France.

In contrast, the majority of energy production in Malaysia is reliant on coal and gas. - Mkini