Malaysia free of radiocative pollution

The Malaysian ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) has asserted that the country is free ,so far, of any radioactive pollution after the nuclear accident situation in Japan last March. The ministry said in a statement issued here on Wednesday that it continues to actively monitor the post-nuclear accident situation in Japan and its impact on Malaysia through several agencies, said its minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili. He said the agencies involved are the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB), Malaysian Nuclear Agency and the Meteorological Department which will be cooperating with Malawakil Vienna, Malawakil Tokyo and Wisma Putra. "The AELB using standard operating procedures will continuously monitor the level of environmental radiation nationwide through the Environmental Radiation Monitoring System (ERMS) at seven locations namely Chuping, Ipoh, Senai, Melaka, Kuantan, Sri Aman and Kudat. "The readings show that radiation levels are normal and safe for the public," he said in a statement today. Ongkili said routine checks using the Radiation Portal Monitor (RPM) at four international airports in Malaysia have not detected any pollution so far. He said according to the Meteorological Department, environmental emergency response centres under the World Meteorological Organisation predicted movement of radioactive materials from the Fukushima nuclear plant towards the north and northeast of Honshu Island and to the Western Pacific Ocean. Besides that, samples of rain water, sea water, tap water and land in several areas around Malaysia revealed no radioactive pollution. Ongkili said the AELB will also continue monthly sampling, especially sea water around the country in Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Mersing, Kuching, Labuan and Kudat.