Dr Mahathir: Better not to have nuclear plant

Published: Wednesday March 16, 2011 MYT 7:46:00 PM
Updated: Wednesday March 16, 2011 MYT 7:47:08 PM
Dr Mahathir: Better not to have nuclear plant

CYBERJAYA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad Wednesday reiterated his view on not having a nuclear power plant in this country.

"You know my view about it. We do not know enough about the reaction of this material," he told reporters here when asked on his views on building the plant.

Dr Mahathir said the radiation leaking from the stricken Japanese nuclear power plant due to the tsunami after the 9.0-magnitude earthquake seemed to lend support for his concern.

"Once it is activated, it becomes radioactive. People do not know how to get rid of the waste," he said.

He noted that during his premiership, the Government had decided on four fuel strategies, namely oil, gas, coal and hydro, and nuclear was not included.

"We have bad experience already with nuclear. I don't know whether people are aware about it or not," he said.

Asked whether he would advise Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak not to have nuclear power plant, Dr Mahathir said, "I'm not an advisor. That is why I use my blog."

Malaysia plans to build two nuclear power plants that will generate 1,000 megawatts each, with the first plant ready for operation in 2021 and the second plant, a year later.

It is part of the overall long-term plan to balance energy supply. - Bernama