COUNTRY REPORT:MALAYSIA
Presented by:
Dr Mohd Abd Wahab Yusof
Director General, Malaysian Nuclear Agency
on behalf ofMinister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment & Climate Change(MESTECC) of Malaysia
20th FNCA Ministerial Level Meeting
5 December 2019
Tokyo, JapanOUTLINE
Overview of Radiation Technology Utilisation in Human Health

National Policy on the Utilization of Radiation Technology inHuman Health

Status and Challenges of Nuclear Human ResourceDevelopment

Progress of Nuclear Technology Applications

Summary

Overview of Radiation Technology Utilisation in Human Health

Establishmentof first NuclearMedicine
Department inGeneral
Hospital Kuala
Lumpur (1962)• Signatory toNPT (1968)• RadioactiveSubstanceAct 1968
• Member of
IAEA (1969)• Ratificationof NPT (1970)

FirstX‐ray
used inMalaysia

1897• Establishment ofDepartment of
Nuclear Science,
UKM (1978)• Establishment of
NDT Laboratory
at MINT (1980)• Establishment of SSDL (1982)• Commissioned of RTP (1982)• NAA Lab (1983)• Establishment of National
Radioactive Waste Management
Center (1984)• Establishment of Radioisotope
Production Facility (1984)• Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984

1966‐
1970

1971‐
1975

1976‐
1980

1981‐
1985

1986‐
1990

1991‐
1995

1996‐
2000

2001‐2005• IAEA ICC inRadiation
Processing of
Natural Polymer&Nanomaterials(2016‐2020)• IAEA ICC for
Chronic Gamma
Irradiation• Establishmentof MNPC(2011)• IAEA ICC for
NDT (2015‐2019)• Establishmentof NationalCancerInstitute (2013)• First PGEC (2004)• Commissioned ofGamma Greenhouse(2005)

Commissionedof SINAGAMA
Commissioned(1989)of ALURTRON(1991)

Establishment ofPUSPATI (1972)

1960‐
1965

Inauguration ofMINT TECH‐PARK(1998)• IAEA ICC in Radiation
Processing of Natural Polymer(2006‐2009)• Commissioned of Cyclotron at
Putrajaya Hospital (2006)• Cabinet took note of DNN(2010)• IAEA ICC in Radiation
Processing of Natural Polymer& Nanomaterials (2010‐2014)

2006‐
2010

2011‐2015

2016‐
2020

Currently, Malaysia has 38 radiotherapy centres, 36 nuclear medicine centres,
1766 radiology setups of various levels and 9 blood irradiation machines

NUCLEAR MEDICINE FACILITIES IN MALAYSIA

Source: Operational policy in nuclear medicine services, Ministry of Health Malaysia, 2018

MEDICAL CYCLOTRONS IN MALAYSIA

Source: Journal of Nuclear and Related Technologies, Volume 12, No. 2, December 2015

NATIONAL PLAN ON THE UTILIZATION OF RADIATION TECHNOLOGY IN
HUMAN HEALTH• Among Government’s initiatives areto improve the overall health status
and wellbeing of the people• The provision of better access tohealthcare services remains in theGovernment’s focus areas• Efforts will be undertaken to improvethe coverage of primary healthcare
such as clinics and rural clinics, aswell as upgrade health facilities• Hence, radiation technology plays
important role and will continue to beutilised in human health sector

FRAMEWORK OF NUCLEAR HUMAN RESOURCEDEVELOPMENTGovernment•Setting the policy of NST•Put in place legal and regulatory
framework of NST

R&D Institutions

Regulatory Authority•Develop, acquire & promoteNST•Implement R,D,C&I• Provide training on NST

Implement and enforce theAtomic Energy Licensing Act(Act 304)

FRAMEWORK OF NUCLEAR
HUMAN RESOURCE
Educational & Training
DEVELOPMENT
Institutions

Industries•Provide avenue forprofessional experience•Establish collaboration withrelevant stakeholders•Provide education on NST•Produce graduate with NST
background

Society & Associations
Promote and advocate NST
NST: Nuclear science & technology

R,D.C&I: Research, development, commercialisation & innovation

STATUS AND CHALLENGES OF NUCLEAR HUMAN RESOURCEDEVELOPMENT Nuclear human resource development is a continuous
process and remains an important focus area in the light ofcurrent situation
 The areas of nuclear HRD includes food & agriculture, industry,
medical & healthcare, water, natural resource & environment,
reactor and accelerator technology, and safety & security
 Nuclear HRD programme is implemented throughpartnerships between public and private sector entities,
research and educational institutions and government andnon-governmental organisations

STATUS AND CHALLENGES OF NUCLEAR HUMAN RESOURCEDEVELOPMENT (cont.)
Challenges of Nuclear HRD
1. Funding and Incentive
 Limited funding and incentive
 The absence of specific funding High competition for funding
2. Facilities, Infrastructure and Human Capital High turnover due to retirement
 Aging facilities and infrastructure Require high cost to operate and maintain Need for new infrastructure and facilities
3. International Collaboration & Strategic Partnership Domestic challenges to establish and attract collaboration
with reputable international partners (ex: legal issues,bureaucracy, etc.)

PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONSFOOD & AGRICULTURE

HUMAN HEALTH

IAEA Collaborating
Centre (2019‐2023) for : New rice varieties(NMR 151 & NMR 152)

•Radiation Processing ofPolymers, WastePolymers &Biocomposites•Advanced Non‐
Destructive Testing Food Traceability of
Edible Birds Nest
 IAEA Collaborating
Centre (2019‐2023) for
Plant Mutation
Breeding using Chronic
Gamma Irradiation

 Continuous use of radiation
technology in human healthsector

INDUSTRY
INDUSTRY Radioisotope for bone pain
palliation (Samarium ‐153)
 Radio‐iodine capsule forthyroid cancer
 Sterilization of healthcareproducts

PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONSWATER, NATURAL RESOURCERESEARCH REACTOR &SAFETY & SECURITY
AND ENVIRONMENTACCELERATOR APPLICATIONS MEDICAL Mobile Hot Cell Facility Borehole Disposal Facility
 Nuclear and isotopic
techniques for climatechange studies
 Environmental forensics
 Radiocarbon dating

 Nuclear Reactor Simulator
for education and training Material science Neutron Activation Analysis
 Radioisotope production(Samarium‐153)

 Radiation dosimetryand radiation
calibration services
 Nuclear forensics
 IAEA Regional
Nuclear Security
Support Centre

MALAYSIA’S INVOLVEMENT WITH FNCA
 Malaysia is actively participating in 7 FNCA Projects
 In 2019, Malaysia hosted Mutation Breeding Workshop:
Mutation Breeding of Major Crops for Low Input
Sustainable Agriculture under Climate Change, 3-6
September 2019
 In 2020, Malaysia will host Workshop of Radiation Safetyand Radioactive Waste Management

SUMMARY Nuclear and radiation technology continue to be used forhuman health applications
 Continuous nuclear human
implemented by various entities

resourcedevelopmentis Existing challenges must be addressed in order to effectively
develop national nuclear human resource and advancing
nuclear technology
 Malaysia believes that FNCA is a good platform to further
discuss on strengthening the stakeholder involvement inrespond to relevant development priorities

THANK YOU