[en] Full-text: The first Nuclear power plant (NPP) deployment in a country is a complex process that needs to consider technical, economic and financial aspects along with other aspects like public acceptance. Increased interest in the deployment of new NPPs, both among newcomer countries and those with expanding programs, necessitates the selection of reactor technology among commercially available technologies. This paper reviews the Systems Decision Process (SDP) of Systems Engineering and applies it in selecting the most appropriate reactor technology for the deployment in Malaysia. The integrated qualitative and quantitative analyses employed in the SDP are explored to perform reactor technology assessment and to select the most feasible technology whose design has also to comply with the IAEA standard requirements and other relevant requirements that have been established in this study. A quick Malaysian case study result suggests that the country reside with PWR (pressurized water reactor) technologies with more detailed study to be performed in the future for the selection of the most appropriate reactor technology for Malaysia. The demonstrated technology assessment also proposes an alternative method to systematically and quantitatively select the most appropriate reactor technology. (author)

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[en] Full-text:Currently, the Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuklear Malaysia) has successfully to maintain 11 Quality certifications and accreditation of facilities in Nuklear Malaysia namely SINAGAMA, RAYMINTEX, Alurtron, Center of Nuklear Excellence (CoNE), Waste Technology Development Center (WasTeC), Radiochemical and Environmental Laboratory (RAS), Radiation Metrology group (KMS) , Non-ionizing radiation group (NIR) and Information Technology & Application (IT) Center. Each facility is required to conduct a series of audits to maintain their ISO Standard certification and accreditation. The purpose of the audit is to ensure that the implementation of quality management complies with standards and achieves the facility's objectives as well as an input to management in improving the efficiency of facility quality management. In order to support and assist the activities of maintaining the quality certification and accreditation of the facilities involved in Nuklear Malaysia, the Planning & International Relations Division (BPA) have acted as a coordinator in carrying out internal audits at each facility involved. This paper will present the monitoring of the quality program through the monitoring of audit activities and audit non-compliance (NC) within a period of five years. In addition to that, this paper also shows the role of internal audit in assisting facilities in maintaining quality certification and accreditation in Nuklear Malaysia. Through these audit activities, improvements are made to the processes carried out and at the same time can maintain quality certification and accreditation in all facilities involved. (author)

[en] The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is a multilateral agreement that prohibits any nuclear explosion, whether for military or civilian purposes. The treaty is supported by a network of International Monitoring Systems (IMS), including radionuclide monitoring stations. Malaysia is the Member State of CTBT and hosts the Radionuclide Monitoring Station (Location Code: RN42) in Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands, Pahang. Continuous daily measurements at RN42 have been an invaluable resource for understanding the variation of natural radioactivity in that area. This study analyses radionuclide measured at the surface air in Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands, Pahang via RN42 station in 2020. The results show that most of the radionuclide measurements in RN42 are categorised as a natural background. However, throughout 2020, the station has several times measured radionuclides with anomalous concentrations. The significant findings may form the basis for further studies on local radiological impact assessment as well as the development of baseline radiological data. (author)

[en] Under the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), an International Monitoring System (IMS) is being developed worldwide which involve the development of monitoring stations encompassing seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound, and radionuclide technologies. The main function of the IMS is for monitoring global nuclear weapon test. As a Member State to the Treaty since 23 July 1998, Malaysia has received various benefits including access to IMS data. Apart from being used for nuclear weapons test monitoring, IMS data also can be utilized for civil and scientific purposes. After more than two decades of CTBT membership, no dedicated study was conducted to assess the level of utilization of IMS data in Malaysia. Therefore, this study was conducted with the objective to assess the level of awareness about CTBT and the level of IMS data utilization among research institutions, universities and relevant government agencies in Malaysia. Online survey and desktop study involving research institutions, local universities as well as relevant government agencies were used in this study. Based on the analysis of the data obtained, this study concluded that the level of awareness and understanding of CTBT as well as the use of IMS data among research institutions, universities and government agencies is low. The study also found that there is a high level of interest among research institutions, universities and government agencies to know more about IMS data as well as its potential utilization for civil and scientific use. (author)

[en] Since 1991, the facilities at the Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuklear Malaysia) have been involved with quality certification and accreditation (ISO) programs. In maintaining the quality of the department's services,at present Nuklear Malaysia has successfully maintained 11 quality certifications and accreditations in facilities involved, namely SINAGAMA, RAYMINTEX, Alurtron, Center of Nuclear Excellence (CoNE), Waste Technology Development Center (WasTeC), Radiation Metrology Group (KMS), Radiochemistry and Environment Laboratory (RAS), Non-Ionizing Radiation Group (NIR), Information Technology & Application Center (IT) and Nuklear Malaysia PKP-BCMS. The objective of this paper is to analyse the impact of quality program implementation in Nuklear Malaysia. The data collection obtained from all facilities can analyse the impact of the implementation of the overall quality program in Nuclear Malaysia. Each facility must maintain ISO certification and accreditation to improve service quality and customer satisfaction at their respective facilities. Nuklear Malaysia has allocated an estimated amount of fee between RM 36,000 in 2015 to RM 73,000 in 2021 to the certification body for maintaining ISO certification and accreditation at these facilities. With the ISO certification and accreditation in all these facilities will increase customer confidence to obtain quality services and this can indirectly increase Nuklear Malaysia revenue. Customer satisfaction index achievement data in 2017 to 2020 shows a percentage ranging from 81.17% to 87.75%. These data have shown that customers are satisfied with the quality of services provided by facilities that have ISO certification and accreditation. The increase in the number of facilities with ISO certification and accreditation since 1991 until now has shown that the importance and need for ISO to improve the quality of services at their respective facilities. To support and assist in the maintaining of certification and accreditation activities of the facilities involved in Nuclear Malaysia, the Planning & International Relations Division (BPA) have acted as the coordinator in conducting internal audits at each facility. The purpose of internal audit is to ensure that the implementation of quality management complies with standards and achieves the objectives of the facility as well as as an input for improvement to management in improving the efficiency of quality management. The effectiveness and efficiency of this Internal Audit can help the facilities in preparation for the audit from the Certification Body. The results of this analysis show that the implementation of this quality program had a high impact on the service quality of the facilities involved with ISO certification and accreditation. (author)

[en] The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is briefly characterized as a global arms control and disarmament initiative, which complementing the goal of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The verification regime of the CTBT is designed to monitor countries' compliance with the CTBT by detecting any nuclear explosion conducted on Earth - underground, underwater or in the atmosphere. This paper briefly goes through the International Monitoring System (IMS) of CTBT's verification regime that uses four different technologies - seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound and radionuclide - to monitor the planet for nuclear explosions. It then pays particular attention to the seismology techniques, including the basic methods of seismic monitoring and the challenges in discriminates between underground explosions and earthquakes. It also summarizes the main conclusions concerning the seismic analyses, based on experience of the Malaysian CTBT National Data Centre (MY-NDC) in National Data Centre Preparedness Exercise 2015. It concludes that underground explosions produce seismic waves with unique characteristics which allow the discrimination between explosions and earthquakes. (author)

[en] Malaysia has established the CTBT National Data Centre (MY-NDC) in December 2005. MY-NDC is tasked to perform Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty (CTBT) data management as well as provide information for Treaty related events to Nuclear Malaysia as CTBT National Authority. In 2015, MY-NDC has participated in the National Data Centre Preparedness Exercise 2015 (NPE 2015). This paper aims at presenting MY-NDC preliminary analysis result of NPE 2015. In NPE 2015, MY-NDC has performed five different analyses, namely, radionuclide, atmospheric transport modelling (ATM), data fusion, seismic analysis and site forensics. The preliminary findings show the hypothetical scenario in NPE 2015 most probably is an uncontained event resulted high release of radionuclide to the air. (author)

[en] Diplomacy has always been the instrument to forge partnerships between nations and since many of the issues facing the world presently need scientific solutions, science diplomacy has evolved as an effective tool to further the aims of international cooperation. In recent years, science diplomacy has demonstrated its potential to help countries address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. Many countries use science diplomacy to forge collaboration in areas of common interest while promoting national interests in the international arena. This can be very direct, such as using science to promote influence, to access technologies, to promote security or to advance trade. Or it can be utilized where science has an important part to play in bilateral or regional issues such as common resource management, where it can be deployed to address common global interest such as climate change, public health concerns, and nuclear proliferation. Nuklear Malaysia has been engaging in this process since its inception in 1972. From extending technical assistance through international organizations, exchanging experiences and knowledge by way of the South-South Cooperation network, and having strong advocacy for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament via its commitment to the NPT, SEANWFZ and CTBT, Nuklear Malaysia has been very strategic in deploying science diplomacy to advance its mandate of advancing the peaceful uses of nuclear technology for national development. Most if not all of these are achieved by Malaysia's and by extension Nuklear Malaysia's participation in the diplomatic process be it at the negotiating table, as a member of the various multilateral groups such as the Group 77 and China, NAM, SEAP or at the policy-making level of international organizations. In addition, Malaysia's representation at the various international forums goes a long way in establishing our credibility, authority, and influence. In conjunction with its 50th anniversary, this paper will discuss the role of science diplomacy in Nuklear Malaysia's success, relevancy and sustainability moving forward into the next 50 years. (author)