MOSTI CONTINUES TO MONITOR JAPANESE NUCLEAR SITUATION - MINISTER

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Science, Technology and
Innovation (Mosti) continues to actively monitor the post-nuclear accident
situation in Japan and its impact on Malaysia through several agencies, said its
minister 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 (Ministry of
Foreign Affairs).

"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 Monday.

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.

He said industry players needing verfication done on imported Japanese
products (not food) to certify that they were not contaminated, can contact the
Malaysian Nuclear Agency at 03-89251201/019-3877609 (Iberahim Ali) or
03-89256270/019-3888031 (Dr Zulkifli Hashim).

For enquiries on travel to Japan, the public can contact Wisma Putra
directly at 03-88874570/03-88892746 or its website, www.kln.gov.my or Malawakil
Tokyo.