Police have advised residents at the Seri Era Apartment, Jalan Naga Sari in Shah Alam to go for health checks if they suspect they have been exposed to the radiation.

The gamma rays from the canisters, if exposed to the public, can cause various health problems.

Among the symptoms suffered by those who are exposed to the gamma ray radiation are dizziness, nausea and vomiting.

The two canisters were found at the apartment last Saturday.

South Klang district police chief ACP Alzafny Ahmad said the canisters were part of the components from a radioactive scanning device. They were found with the seal open.

According to the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB), the canister has the gamma ray capacity of up to 300 milisievert per hour and is dangerous to the human body, which is capable of receiving only 20 milisievert gamma ray a year, he said.

As such, he advised residents of the apartment, especially those who had been near the Rukun Tetangga Room between 4am last Thursday and 6pm last Saturday to contact AELB at 03-8922588 or 1-800-88-799 for advice.

Present at the media conference with police was AELB director (Ray Regulatory Division) Hasmadi Hassan.

Last Thursday, two radioactive scanners belonging to an oil and gas company were reported stolen from a car.

Following that, a special team was set up to investigate the matter and this led to the arrest of eight people in Klang and Shah Alam.

According to Alzafny, the team made a breakthrough last Friday when it found several pieces of the scanners at a scrap metal shop in Kampung Jawa here and arrested three suspects.

The arrest of the suspects led police to the apartment where they found the two canisters last Saturday. A suspect was also arrested there.

Alzafny said four employees of the oil and gas company were also arrested last Friday to assist in investigations.