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Can Malaysia Go Nuclear?
- NST
Quote pro-nuclear considerations by DPM Najib
Razak and Science, Technology & Innovation
Deputy Minister Fadillah Yusof. Good quotes on
the nuclear safety issue from Samudi Yasir,
Associate Professor in nuclear science at UKM
(and Malaysia Nuclear Society member we might
add)
”Accidents involving nuclear reactor are very,
very rare. Almost every month, there is a death
in the coal mines, but why are people not so
sensitive to that?
The negative perception stems from the bombing
in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, that’s all.”
Spotlight:
The lost years - NST
Interviews Dr Samudi Yasir, Associate Professor in nuclear science
at UKM (and MNS member) and 87 years old.
A. Ramanath who ‘came up with idea to set up
a nuclear division in NEB’ (Nuclear Energy
Board) in the 1970s. His reasoning then for
Malaysia to go nuclear, which applies exactly
today, was based on the rising cost of fuel,
depleting world petroleum reserves and the
countries overwhelming reliance on fuel as its
primary energy source.
Spotlight: Three Mile Island, Chernobyl
- NST
Interviews A. Ramanath, former deputy general manager of NEB/TNB
(Planning and construction Division)
“Investigations into the Chernobyl disaster of
April 26, 1986, showed that the engineers in
charge of conducting the safety test had failed
to follow the established rules and follow the
prescribed procedures”
Spotlight: 15 years to our first nuclear power
plant - NST
Quotes Jamal Khaer
Ibrahim, International Officer from the Nuclear
Malaysia Agency
“Japan is very prone to earthquakes but that
didn’t stop the….They are the only country in
the world which has experienced atomic bombing,
but they look orward to the positive application
of nuclear”
Samudi Yasir adds “Harnessing nuclear power
seems to be a relatively easy task for Malaysia
, who has had the groundwork laid out before,
but Samudi warns against rushing into it…there
is no fast implementation when it comes to
nuclear
The unsigned NST EDITORIAL 29 June
caps off these pro-nuclear articles.
Titled
“Powering up the nuclear option” the Editorial
concludes:-
“It is clear that Malaysia, while cutting down
on energy wastage, has to expand the use of
renewable energy sources such as solar and wind
power, and biomass. Certainly it would be wise
to have a good mix of energy sources, including
nuclear energy. And it might be time for a new
NEB- Nuclear Energy Board”
The willingness of Malaysia Nuclear Society
members and also scientists speaking from their
official positions is clearing shaping the
environment for a “Malaysia Goes Nuclear’
announcement from Government. However, we still
need a great deal more education to win the
hearts of minds of the public who have been fed
40 years of anti-nuclear and anti-technology
propaganda by the Green Environmental Movement,
including an unprincipled nuclear fear campaign.
We are now successfully challenging the supposed
danger of the nuclear industry by showing
scientifically that nuclear for peaceful
purposes is the safest technology ever invented
by Mankind.
But this is not the only issue. As the NST
Editorial makes clear, echoing recent statements
from our politicians, there is still the
dangerous illusion that solar power, wind
turbines and biofuels are practical alternatives
to oil, gas and coal. Wherever we get the
opportunity in the Press and TV we need to
boldly present the truth to the public. The
recent 41% increase in petrol prices has
certainly activated the entire population who
are more than willing to listen to the sane
voice of Malaysia’s scientific community.
There is a pressing need to educate the public
about the “green alternatives’ along reasoned
scientific arguments
1. “SOLAR PANELS are not viable as
industrial energy sources. Maybe they are good
for small-scale applications such as parking
meters or street lamps”
Dr Nahrul Khair, Deputy Director General Nuclear
Malaysia, The Sun 15 June 2008.
( Dr Nahrul is also the long time President
of the Malaysian Nuclear Society).
2. “WIND TURBINES will be TOTALLY USELESS
for electricity generation in Malaysia. The wind
speed is too low and for most of the time will
not even turn the blades! Even in Texas and the
North Sea where the winds are good, the wind
fluctuates greatly and unpredictably so there is
always a need for back up power plants
using fossil fuels. As Howard C. Hayden,
Professor Emeritus of Physics University of
Connecticut has pointed out ‘Denmark sells
wind turbines to suckers!’ “
Mohd Peter Davis, at a MNS hosted Conference at
Nuclear Malaysia Agency 24 June 2008.
3. BIOFUELS, the green alternative to
fossil fuels, make no sense at all on any
grounds. Biofuels are largely produced from
human food such as sugar cane, palm oil and
mainly corn(maize). Growing these crops and
processing them consumes more energy than they
produce! They are also morally objectionable to
all cultures now that the world is facing mass
hunger and even starvation. One tankful of
ethanol from corn will feed 1 person for 1 year.
Worldwide biofuels destroy food for 500 million
people.
Helga Zepp Larouche June 2006, calling to double
world food production.
http://www.larouchepac.com/news/2008/05/22/humanity-mortal-danger.html-0
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22 January 2008 | The IAEA today released a
reference manual that details how to
prevent, detect, and respond to an incidence
of nuclear terrorism.
