Public engagement may have been scant on the generation of power using nuclear energy, but the government is certainly going forward with its nuclear plans.

However, said Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) chief executive Idris Jala, Malaysia's path to the use of nuclear energy for electricity generation is "very clear".

Many other countries have also taken the same path, he said when asked about this by Malaysiakini at the Perdana Leadership Foundation CEO Forum today.

economic transformation programme 210910 idris jala 02 "There needs to be a long preparation period, heavy duty focus on stringent safety regulations, as well as public and stakeholder engagement in the implementation... there is no, no, no short cut.

"This is just the beginning of engagement with the public. Many things will have to take place before we lay an egg on this," Idris ( left ) said.

He added that the government would also have to look at where to locate the nuclear plant, and the incentives that have to be in place for states that volunteer to host it.

Government-linked energy company Tenaga Nasional Bhd has said it is ready to undertake to build the nuclear power plant, which it aims to complete in 2021.

This issue is worrying Klang parliamentarian Charles Santiago, who has slammed the government for listing the project under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), despite the lack of public engagement.

Nuclear power is one of the biggest alternative energy projects listed under the ETP, alongside solar power and hydroelectric power dams.