PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is still assessing whether it needs to sign a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States before moving ahead with any nuclear power plans, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister said the proposed agreement – known as a “123 Agreement” under US law was required before any nuclear materials, equipment, technology or reactor designs from the US can be transferred.
He said the agreement covers the peaceful use of nuclear energy, export controls, compliance with strict safety and security standards, and continuous monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Fadillah said the US remains the main global holder of intellectual property in nuclear power and fuel-cycle technology, which is why Malaysia was considering working with Washington.
Through such an agreement, Malaysia could also access reactor designs and technology from Japan, France and South Korea, as many of their systems were built on US-owned intellectual property.
“Even if Malaysia deals with suppliers from other countries, the US can still impose export conditions if the technology originates from its intellectual property,” he said.
He added that several Asean countries – including the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam – have already signed similar agreements with the US.
As for the location of Malaysia’s first nuclear power plant, Fadillah said no decision has been made, as studies on potential sites are still ongoing.
Any proposed site must meet strict requirements, including water availability for cooling, access to the national grid, logistics support such as port facilities, and local geological and seismic conditions.
“These assessments are crucial to ensure the plant’s structural stability and long-term operational safety. A final decision will only be made once all safety, technical and policy requirements are fully met,” he said in a written reply to Mumtaz Md Nawi (PN–Tumpat), who had asked about the details of the proposed civil nuclear agreement with the United States, why Washington was being considered, and which state is expected to host the country’s first nuclear power plant.
