Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984 will be finalised by this year: AELB

JOHOR BARU: The amendments to the Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984 (Act 304) will be finalised by this year, said Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) Malaysia director-general, Hamrah Mohd Ali (pix).
He said the amendments to the act was to step up the issue of security and the safeguard of radioactive and nuclear materials control and its safety usage.
Speaking to reporters after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between University Technology Malaysia (UTM) and AELB at UTM today, he said, the amendments to the technical aspects have been completed and submitted to the Attorney-General of Chambers.
He said nuclear technologies have developed rapidly, and the AELB has issued about 2,000 licenses to various industry players so far.
The AELB will monitor the radioactive and nuclear material usages in the field of agriculture, industry and research, while the usages on medicine was still under the Ministry of Health.
Apart from Kuala Lumpur headquarters, AELB branches in Kulai, Kemaman, Penang, and Bintulu are providing services as well as monitoring the safety of workers involved in the field of radiation.
On enforcement, Hamrah said, the effective control of nuclear technologies are also in the hands of top management and leaders in the industries concerned.
On the MoU, he said, it is on the exchange of technical information and cooperation in nuclear and radiation safety, security of radioactive and nuclear materials besides the safeguard of nuclear materials.
UTM vice chancellor (Development) professor Dr Azlan Abdul Rahman said there will be more teachings, learnings, joint researches, seminars, publications, internships on radiation and nuclear technologies with the signing of the MoU.