The Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui had told Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng that a nuclear plant there would be "unsuitable" given the state's dense population.

"One of the main criteria in choosing a nuclear power plant site, based on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines, is the population density of the surrounding area.

"Given that Penang has a high population density, it would seem unsuitable," said Chin in respond to Lim’s letter.

NONE Lim had sent a letter to Chin last month urging the federal government to halt the nuclear project following the nuclear crisis in Japan in the wake of a devastating earthquake and tsunami.

The Penang CM had also previously told Chin that any plan to build a nuclear power plant in the state would be rejected by his Pakatan Rakyat government.

In Chin's reply, which was made available to reporters by Lim's office, the minister in charge of nuclear energy had also stressed that the federal government has yet to make a final decision on the construction of nuclear power plants in the country.

"An all-encompassing study on aspects such as human capital, legalities and regulations, technology, nuclear industry and so on will have to be carried out before we make a final decision," said Chin, adding that there should also be public awareness and education on the controversial issue.

Chin: Don’t reject nuclear power outright

Despite Lim's fervent opposition to the nuclear power plant project, Chin said that nuclear energy should not be rejected outright.

peter chin "I am of the opinion that the nuclear energy option should not just be rejected because it has the potential to be an alternative for energy generation in the long term, especially after 2020," said Chin.

The government announced in December last year that two nuclear plants would be built by 2022 to generate 1,000 megawatts of power each.

This is apparently aimed to wean the country off its heavy dependence on fossil fuels for energy generation.

However, fears over the safety of nuclear plants have arisen with Japan, a major operator of such plants, facing the threat of a meltdown at its stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant following the recent 9.0 magnitude earthquake.