SHAH ALAM, Nov 17 — It is crucial that Selangor begin exploring nuclear power as a source of energy to avoid being left behind and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, the State Legislative Assembly heard today.
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the state government is currently in the early stages of exploring nuclear energy as a clean energy option, with any implementation expected to take place only in at least five years.
"We must start exploring and cannot remain quiet while we rely solely on fossil fuel," he said during the question and answer session.
"What I am looking at now is our readiness for the future, which is why I said it won't be very soon. At the earliest, it will take five years, maybe 10. But we must start now.
"Otherwise, (we will be scrambling) when others are already ready or have completed their studies. We must be prepared."
Amirudin noted how countries like Germany are currently relying on nuclear energy produced by France after they stopped their own production, due to backlash from the public.
"This is an important lesson that we must learn from and understand. We shouldn't look at the issue from just one angle."
According to the Menteri Besar, Selangor is currently focused on research and capacity building before the state can be fully ready to introduce nuclear energy.
He said that, as announced in the 2026 Selangor Budget last Friday, the state will send local students and talent for training in countries such as China to strengthen their knowledge of nuclear technology, which can then be applied locally.
He said this is also necessary to better address public misconceptions about nuclear energy, which is often associated with the Hiroshima bombing and the Chernobyl disaster.
On concerns raised that nuclear energy is much costlier, Amirudin said other conventional energy sources such as fossil fuels and coal are similarly expensive, in addition to being more environmentally harmful.
"Even solar has challenges like sustainability, consistency, and storage. Yes, there are bigger capacity ones now through the development of better batteries, but the disposal of old batteries impacts the environment."
On Friday, when tabling the budget, Amirudin announced that the state government will establish a Joint Working Committee on Nuclear Energy to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of using nuclear power, taking into account the latest technological developments.
He said these efforts are not only crucial for opening new investment opportunities but also for raising public awareness on the importance of sustainable energy for future generations.
