An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts today completed a mission to review national nuclear security practices in Malaysia.

The IAEA conducted the two-week International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission at the request of the Government of Malaysia. The mission reviewed Malaysia’s nuclear security-related legislative and regulatory framework for nuclear and other radioactive material and associated facilities and activities. In addition, the team reviewed the physical protection systems at the TRIGA PUSPATI Research Reactor and Gamma Green House of the Malaysian Nuclear Agency, the Ministry of Health’s National Blood Centre, the Nuclear Science Programme at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and an irradiation facility for sterilization belonging to the company Grand Ten Holding Sdn Bhd.

The IPPAS team concluded that Malaysia has taken important steps to strengthen nuclear security. The team identified a number of good practices while also making recommendations and suggestions for continuous improvement.

"The example given by Malaysia strongly reinforces the importance and the value of establishing and applying IAEA nuclear security guidance," said Nicolas Delaunay, the IAEA technical coordinator for this mission.

The team, led by Stephan Bayer, Director of the Nuclear Security Section of the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office, comprised six experts from six nations as well as an IAEA representative. The team met in Kuala Lumpur with officials from the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB), the Chief Government Security Office (CGSO), the Ministry of Health, the Royal Malaysian Police, the Malaysian Nuclear Agency, the National Blood Centre, the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Grand Ten Holding Sdn Bhd.

"The IPPAS mission was very useful and we hope that IAEA guidance regarding nuclear security, especially in the area of physical protection, will benefit Malaysia," said Fedrick Charlie, National IPPAS Coordinator of AELB.

Background The mission was the 72nd IPPAS mission conducted by the IAEA since the programme began in 1995. This was the first IPPAS mission in Malaysia.
Source :WAM