KOTA KINABALU: Gamma Spectrum Water Monitoring Stations (GSWMS) can detect any abnormal levels of radioactivity in water.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister (Mosti) Chang Lih Kang said the device serves a crucial purpose to monitor the levels of radioactivity within the Malaysia's waters.
He told reporters this after visiting the first GSWMS installed in the country in late June this year, situated at the jetty of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in Sepanggar.
UMS was chosen as the strategic location due to its proximity to China, Japan and South Korea.
Following this, he said four more GSWMS would be installed in Sandakan, Langkawi, Johor and Pahang.
This need arises from concerns about treated radioactive water released into the seas from Fukushima Daaiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean by Japanese authorities last week.
The released of the radioactive water has led to public anxiety about the radioactive content in our waters, he said.
The installation cost for each device is RM600,000 and assured the public not to worry as under Mosti, the Atomic Energy Department was constantly monitoring the situation, he said.
In this region, he said Malaysia was the third Asean country to install the GSWMS after both Vietnam and Singapore who had already implemented theirs.
"We will also share the information with other Asean countries," he added.
It's important to understand that radioactivity is not visible to the naked eye but the system could detect it, he said.
Regarding the lack of science stream students in the country, he said the trend was worrying because the country aspires to become a technology producer.
"Now we are attracting industries and investors to invest in innovation technology, we need the scientists to meet this workforce," he said.
The lack of science stream students will impact the investments, he added