'Lack of accountability on nuke plants shocking'

 

Perak DAP yesterday slammed the federal government for secretly identifying seven locations in peninsula Malaysia to construct their controversial nuclear plants without consulting the public.

“Perak DAP is also shocked to learn that one of the locations is Tasek Temenggur in Hulu Perak,” said DAP Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming in a statement yesterday.

He called on Perak MB Zamry Abdul Kadir to display accountability and transparency in the matter, before any decisions are made on the construction of the plant.

“The government did not publish documents relating to these publicly, and the lack of public accountability is shocking”, said Nga (left in photo).

A coalition of anti-nuclear and environmental NGOs, the Malaysian Coalition against Nuclear (Mycan) alleged this week that the Prime Minister’s Department and Malaysian Nuclear Energy Agency had identified seven potential sites to set up nuclear power plants, including Perak, noting that the plants would be built for the nation at a cost of RM21.3 billion.

Nga added, “We call upon the people of Perak to support the Pakatan. If there is enough support, we can regain the state government. If this happens, the state government will not approve any rare earth and nuclear plants in our state.”

Nga pointed out that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was turning back the clock, noting that Germany, among other advanced nations, was reducing the usage of nuclear power by shutting down eight major nuclear plants throughout the nation.

“Modern countries are reducing usage of nuclear energy on their shores, and it seems that Malaysia, alone, is pushing the pedal forward,” said Nga.

Online petition launched

Najib had announced in December 2010 his intention to build two mega energy plants capable of producing a total of 1000 Megawatts of power between them. The first plant will be completed by 2021, and the second a year later.

Mycan is a coalition comprising 15 NGOs, and its statement, made during a press conference this week was endorsed by 29 NGOs.

Mycan has started an online petition to stop the construction of the nuclear plants on the basis of the precautionary principle.







The coalition aims to collect one million signatures throughout the course of the campaign.
It calls upon the government to cancel its plan and embark on power generation through renewable energy and improving energy efficiency.