Although the cabinet has yet to decide on the proposal to construct mega-nuclear power plants for Malaysia, groups and individuals continue to raise concerns over its necessity and safety.

Criticsm has also come from a Barisan Nasional component party. Penang Gerakan legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh said that the matter of deciding whether the country needs nuclear power should be decided by the people.

NONE Baljit ( left ) added that the issue of nuclear power in Malaysia will effect all Malaysians regardless of race, sex, economic or social status, and political affiliations.

“This issue does not concern either BN or Pakatan Rakyat, but Malaysians as a whole,” said the vocal Baljit, who is a lawyer.

“The government may not have a legal but a moral obligation to ensure that Malaysians agree to this project because it will, whether they like it or not, affect them personally,” he added.

“I propose that the government conduct a referendum to ask Malaysians if they want this project,” he told Malaysiakini .

In December last year, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui announced plans to build two nuclear power plants that will generate 1,000 megawatts each.

The first plant is expected to be ready for operation in 2021 and the second plant, a year later. They are part of the overall long-term plan to balance energy supplies in the country.

The announcement generated a mixed reaction from the public.

azlan Last month, Chin said the cabinet has yet to decide on the matter,

Baljit said in the spirit of 1Malaysia, which he totally supported as it prioritises “people first” ( rakyat di dahulukan ), citizens should decide the fate of this country.

Instead of spending millions on this project, he proposed that it would be better to ask citizens if they truly needed or wanted it.

“It is the same as wanting to buy a car, a buyer will ask: do we need the car? If there is no need for one, there would be no point in going through the trouble of buying the car,” he said.

“So it is the same with this nuclear power project,” he added.

“Whatever it is, we know that this project is dangerous and there are concerns if we are able to ensure the safety of our citizens if this project takes off,” he stressed.

Dr M also against nuke plant

Baljit is not alone in this as former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has reiterated his stand against having a nuclear power plant in the country.

He was quoted as saying by Bernama that the government, during his time, had already had a bad nuclear experience.

“I don’t know whether people are aware about it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Selangor executive councillor Elizabeth Wong had also voiced out her concerns, suggesting that Malaysia should focus more on solar energy.

“Malaysia is set to become the world’s number three producer of solar cells, while we have zero production capacity for nuclear,” she told the media recently.

“The federal government must start incorporating logic into its energy planning policies,” she had said in a statement.