Menteri besar Amirudin Shari said Selangor is in the early stages of exploring the technology, including building technical expertise.

“The earliest would be in about five years. Right now, we’re focused on capacity-building, including sending officers trained in nuclear-related fields (overseas).

“We will also consult local universities. Several institutions, including Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, have reached out to explore possible collaborations,” he said, Bernama reported.

He was replying to Mariam Abdul Rashid (PH-Meru) on the state’s plans and timeline for full implementation of nuclear-based clean energy.

Amirudin said as nuclear studies remain underdeveloped in Malaysia, the nation is sending some students to seek opportunities abroad.

“I have personally met with our students at Tsinghua University in China. They are exploring the field on their own because nuclear energy is still seen here as a ‘sin sector’, unfit for exploration.

“But the future demands preparedness. We cannot rely solely on fossil fuels like gas and coal, which are less sustainable compared to nuclear (energy),” he said.

He said safety, potential leak risks and public perception remain key issues that must be clearly addressed, adding that Germany’s experience offers valuable lessons for Malaysia.