Science minister says Malaysia installed seawater radiation levels monitors, plans to install more
GEORGE TOWN, Aug 25 — Malaysia has installed a gamma spectrum water monitoring system in the waters off Sabah after Japan released treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang said Malaysia is the third country to have such a system after Singapore and Vietnam.
“We have installed one in our waters to monitor our seawaters 24/7. So far, it didn’t detect anything abnormal,” he said after launching a STEM showcase at Han Chiang High School here.
He was responding to questions on the release of treated radioactive water by Japan.
He said the water monitoring system would be able to detect any abnormal levels of radioactivity in the seawater.
“If it detected any abnormal radioactive level, we will know,” he said.
Chang said the ministry has plans to install four more of the water monitoring systems in Malaysian waters.
“We have not identified the locations yet, it is in the plans,” he said.
He said the Atomic Energy Licensing Board is constantly monitoring the situation.
“Data showed that the water released so far is still under the safe specifications,” he said.
Japan has started releasing treated radioactive water from Fukushima despite heavy criticisms and threats of import bans from China, South Korea and Hong Kong.
The Fukushima nuclear power plant was shut down after it was severely damaged due to a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011.
The Japanese authorities have said the water is safe and in line with standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
