KUCHING (Aug 5): The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) will increase its capabilities in terms of detection equipment, should a nuclear plant be built in Malaysia.

In stating this, Bomba director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad also said in terms of the technology for building nuclear plants and also in fire prevention system, the situation is now on a ‘mature’ stage.

“What it means by mature is that we can make case references to existing international standards, or the best practices in the industry. “So in terms of internal security, there are references.

“In terms of preparations, we will refer to countries that already have nuclear plants,” he told reporters at Wisma Wanita here yesterday after officiating at Bomba Sarawak’s medals and awards ceremony.

Nor Hisham added that basically, all firefighters had been exposed to the basics of handling radioactive situations. “We also have 17 special Hazmat (hazardous materials) teams, and 429 personnel who have understanding about issues related to radioactivity.

“Just in terms of detection equipment, if a plant was built, we would need to improve it depending on the location of the construction.”

In 2008, Malaysia formed the Nuclear Energy Development Steering Committee to explore the potential of nuclear energy and in 2009, the Malaysian Nuclear Power Corporation (MNPC) was established as the implementing body for the Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organisation (NEPIO) under the Prime Minister’s Department.

However, the plan was dropped in 2018. The government, however, had once again considering nuclear as a clean energy option in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), presented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on July 31, with a target of operating nuclear plants around 2031.

Also present yesterday was Bomba Sarawak director Jamri Masran.