ASTANA, Kazakhstan: Malaysia needs to explore more natural power sources for the future.
Malaysia Physicians for Social Responsibility (MPSR) president Dr David Quek told the New Straits Times the government needs to find other power alternatives for the future instead of opting to go nuclear.
"It is understood that the government is looking into nuclear power options. However, they should seriously reconsider this as there are other sources such as waves, wind and solar energy that is safer for the country and people.
"It may not be absolutely impossible but the technological system the world has now is still in its infancy stage and yet to be fully refined and clean.
"It's just not the right time and there may never be," he said.
Dr Quek was attending the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear (IPPNW) 21st World Congress here, with two other Malaysian delegates from MPSR Dr Thong Kok Wai and Ronald McCoy, who is also former co-president of IPPNW.
This year's congress themed "From Nuclear Test Ban to a Nuclear Weapon Free World: Disarment, Peace and Global Health in the 21st Century" was launched today by president of IPPNW 21st World Congress Dr Abai Baigenzhin, founding IPPNW co-president Dr Evgueni Chazov and Kazakhstan Health Minister Dr Salidat Kairbekova.
More than 500 participants from 44 countries such as the Netherlands, Japan and India who are involved in the health industry attended the six-day event.
Austrian Foreign Affairs minister Ronald Sturm who spoke during the opening ceremony applauded the big step Kazakhstan has taken by disarming themselves from nuclear testing.
"Kazakhstan is a role model and should be applauded for its disarment to a non-nuclear weapon state and now we wait for others to follow suit. We should applaud and appeal for them to continue the hard work," he said.