PRESS RELEASE

THE HONORABLE MINISTER OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
ON THE NUCLEAR ACCIDENT FROM THE
EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI AFTERMATH IN JAPAN

11 a.m. 8 August 2011

THE SITUATION IN JAPAN

1.           According to Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), repair works at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station continues and showed good progress. On 3 August 2011, TEPCO, owner of the Nuclear Power Station submitted a report on the water treatment and storage facility, including the highly concentrated radioactive materials to NISA. The report also included the state of storing and treatment of contaminated water and future forecast based on the current situation of the treatment facility and as soon as it starts its operation. A weekly report will be submitted until the treatment of the accumulated water in the Centralised Radiation Waste Treatment Facility is completed.

2.           Starting 4 August 2011, the accumulated water at Unit 3 turbine building was transferred to the Centralised Radiation Waste Treatment Facility where the water treatment system operation begun later that night..

3.           As of 27 July 2011, the movement of cattle (excluding under 12-months old) reared in Fukushima prefecture to other prefectures and slaughterhouse is restricted by the Department of Food Safety, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Japan. To date, the restriction also applies to cattle farmed in Tochigi, Iwate and Miyagi prefectures. On 29 July 2011, MHLW set a base policy on the establishment of testing and shipment plans related to contaminated beef. This is to ensure appropriate measures are taken at each stage of the food chain to ensure food security.

4.           As of 3 August 2011, restriction on food distribution as issued by the Director General of the Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters is still enforced for raw milk, vegetables, fishery products, beef and tea leaf. However the restriction is limited to certain prefectures or certain areas in some prefectures. Details of the restriction can be obtained at: http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/topics/2011eq/dl/Instructions0802.pdf.

5.           Various Japanese authorities are continuously monitoring radiation levels at ports, airports and various cities in Japan. Measurements on 5 August 2011 showed the level of radiation in the cities of Tokyo, Yokohama, Kawasaki and Ichikawa (Chiba) as well as at ports and airports were at safe levels and do not have any effect on human health. Malaysia’s regulatory limit considered safe for the public is 0.50 micro-Sievert per hour. 

6.           6. On 22 April 2011, the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) issued guidelines for radiation measurements in ports in order to provide foreign port authorities with accurate data. The guidelines cover gamma dose rate measurements for export containers and ships as well as radiation monitoring of atmosphere and seawater in ports. Radiation measurements in the atmosphere and sea water in the ports will be conducted by the port authorities or MLIT. Results are to be posted on the MLIT website: http://www.mlit.go.jp/kowan/kowan_fr1_000041.html.

ACTION BY MOSTI:

1.          MOSTI, through the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB), Malaysian Nuclear Agency (ANM) and the Malaysian Meteorology Agency (JMM), together with Malawakil Vienna, Malawakil Tokyo and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is continuously monitoring the situation in Japan and the possible impact to Malaysia.

2.          AELB, as part of its standard operating procedure, is continuously monitoring the radiological environmental level throughout Malaysia through the Environmental Radiological Monitoring System (ERMS) that are located at 7 sites throughout Malaysia (Chuping, Ipoh, Senai, Melaka, Kuantan, Sri Aman and Kudat). Readings continue to show levels that are normal and safe for the public. Routine monitoring through the Radiation Portal Monitors stationed at 4 Malaysian international airports (KLIA, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Penang) did not detect any radioactive contaminations to date.

3.          According to the Malaysian Meteorology Agency, the modeling results by the Environmental Emergency Response Center (EER) of the World Meteorological Organisation, for the forecast period up to 8 August 2011 predicted that the tracers of radioactive Iodine 131 released from Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant will be transported north/northeastwards over to the West Pacific. The exposure and deposition areas of the tracers will cover mostly the northern part of Honshu and area over the western Pacific.

4.           Sampling of rainwater, seawater, drinking water, soil and vegetation at various points all over Malaysia in order to monitor the possibility of radioactive contamination had begun on 2 April 2011. To date, no radioactive contamination was detected in all the samples analysed. AELB will continue its monthly sampling activities especially for seawater throughout Malaysia i.e. in Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Mersing, Kuching, Labuan and Kudat.

5.           Screening of passengers and baggage including industrial products are deemed not necessary in Malaysia. However, AELB and Nuclear Malaysia offer free contamination screening of individuals at their respective headquarters. For those who still require screening and verification of industrial products imported from Japan, enquiries can be made with Nuclear Malaysia at 03-89251201/019-3877609 (En. Iberahim Ali) or 03-89256270/019-388 8031 (Dr. Zulkifli Hashim).

6.           On travelling advice to and within Japan, the duty officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Wisma Putra may be contacted at 03-88874570/03-88874570, its website www.kln.gov.my or Malawakil Tokyo. .

7.           For other enquires, reference can be made to AELB Information Radiological Center through AELB Hotline 1-800-88-7999 or through email at MNR-Customer@aelb.gov.my.

8.           Based on the current dose rates which continuously show readings that are safe for the public coupled with the controlled situation in Japan, this press release will only be issued once a month unless there is an unexpected turn of events or new information that are relevant for public knowledge. The next release will be in September 2011.

9.     Technical information regarding the accident in Fukushima Daiichi can be obtained at these websites:

(i)      IAEA website (www.iaea.org);

(ii)      MOSTI website (www.mosti.gov.my);

(iii)     AELB website (www.aelb.gov.my); and