M'sian Deputy PM Outlines Malaysia's Contribution To Check Nuclear Terrorism

From R. Ravichandran SEOUL, March 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has made significant progress in fulfilling commitments agreed to at the inaugural Nuclear Security Summit in Washington in 2010, including strengthening its legislative framework, said Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. Speaking to Malaysian reporters on the sidelines of the two-day Nuclear Security Summit which opened here Monday, Muhyiddin said the government was now in the final stages of revising the Atomic Energy Licensing Act to become a comprehensive nuclear law. He said this will allow Malaysia to accede to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM), and its 2005 Protocol, ratify the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Additional Protocol and adopt the various outstanding IAEA codes of conduct. He also said that Malaysia continued to strengthen the global export control regime and, in this context, the Strategic Trade Act (STA) came into force on July 1, 2011. "This law has enabled Malaysia to contribute to global efforts to curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," said Muhyiddin. At the 2010 summit, which Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and 46 other leaders attended, a non-binding communiqué was issued recognising nuclear terrorism as one of the most challenging threats to international security. Muhyiddin said Malaysia had also endorsed the Statement of Principles to the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT). In combating illicit trafficking, he said, Malaysia continued to implement the Container Security Initiative (CSI) and the Megaport Initiative. The CSI and Megaport Initiative are implemented at several ports in Malaysia. The Megaport Initiative is targeted for further expansion this year. Muhyiddin said Malaysia had supported and endorsed last year the IAEA Codes of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and the Guidance on the Import and Export of Radioactive Sources. "On this aspect, Malaysia remains fully committed to implementing the IAEA Information Circular on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities," he said. Malaysia also continued to work with the IAEA and with partner countries, both bilaterally and regionally, to increase training and awareness and capacity building, both for Malaysians and those from other countries, he said. Malaysia also hosted several international, regional and bilateral capacity building programmes related to nuclear safety and security, he said and added that Malaysia's Nuclear Security Support Centre (NSSC), recognised by the IAEA, also served as a regional training centre. Malaysia has benefited from cooperation with countries across the globe, including Canada, Japan, Germany and the United States as well as the European Commission, he said. Muhyiddin said Malaysia was heading towards an expansion of peaceful applications of nuclear technology in traditional non-power sectors in industry, and, as such, the Malaysia Nuclear Power Corporation (MNPC) was established last year to function as the Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organisation (NEPIO). He said Malaysia wanted to ensure safe, secure and peaceful utilisation of the nuclear technology. He also said that Malaysia hoped that one day the world would be totally free from any form of nuclear weapons. On the safe use of nuclear energy, Muhyiddin said the preparation towards that should be undertaken by taking into account the fact that Malaysia might have no option when oil sources decrease. He said Malaysia was fortunate that it could make use of alternative sources of energy such as solar, hydro and wind which had yet to be fully exploited. Nuclear experts could play a role by explaining and creating awareness on nuclear technology, beginning at the level of students and through community programmes. Muhyiddin said Malaysia had been involved for more than 30 years in nuclear technology research for peaceful purposes, and has 300 experts in the field. Asked about the Lynas issue, he said the government and independent experts had provided explanations but certain quarters including the opposition political parties refused to understand the issue. "This will serve as a lesson for the future when we have to manage matters pertaining to nuclear energy for better understanding and acceptance by the people," he said. -- BERNAMA