M'SIA TO TEST SEA WATER, RAIN WATER, SOIL FOR RADIOACTIVITY

KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- The Science, Technology and Innovation
Ministry is to test samples of sea water, rain water and soil for radioactivity
at various locations in the country and release the results periodically
beginning 3pm Friday.

The tests are being done following the detection of higher-than-permissible
levels of radioactivity in the samples of sea water taken from near the
earthquake-damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, Minister
Dr Maximus Ongkili said Friday.

The Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) would conduct the tests to
determine the density of Iodine 131 (I-131) and Cesium 137 (Cs-137)
radionuclides in the samples of sea water, rain water and soil, he said in a
statement.

"A report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on March 29
confirmed that the situation was still serious at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear
Power Station in Japan," he said.

Dr Ongkili said the Malaysian Nuclear Agency would release the results of
the analyses of the samples periodically beginning 3pm Friday.

The Fukushima Daiichi plant was damaged after an earthquake of 9.0-magnitude
rocked north-eastern Japan and unleashed a tsunami on March 11, causing more
than 10,000 deaths and 20,000 unaccounted for in the twin disasters.