UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

FINAL TERM PAPER FOR PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

NUCLEAR ENERGY IS AN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

SOURCE TO MALAYSIA

` IT IS MORE ETHICAL TO USE IT OR TO BAN IT `

SITI SARAH BT MOHD AZLAN

2009403966

AS 226/ ASB3F 1

SUPERVISE BY ASS.PROF DR JAAFAR JANTAN

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Total matched phrases/ total submitted: 4% (4/93)
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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

NAME: SITI SARAH MOHD AZLAN

GROUP: ASB3F1
ID NO: 2009403966
PROGRAMME: BAC Hons IN SCIENCE ( FOOD TECHNOLOGY) WITH MINOR
IN FOOD ISLAMIC LAW.
CODE : AS226 PART 3
TEL. NO: 019-2069078
E-MAIL: jedlady_sarah88@yahoo.com.my
.VISSION:
1) To fulfill my ambition to become one of the health professionals who specialize in
human nutrition, meals planning to improve healthy diet among Malaysian in 4 to7 years
to come as well as being one of the world islamic food quality council at 10 to 12 years
to come so that the level of diseases like Diabetes, High blood pressure, Depression,
Anemia, Obesity, Osteoporosis, Metabolic syndrome, Cardiovascular disease and many
others popular diseases occurs in Malaysia can be reduce.
2) To serve all information about healthy daily intake to the public.
3) Training new people who is interested in nutrition field.
MISSION:
- In order to achieve the vision above, I have to learn wisely through this programme,
meet true understanding and comprehension about food field, knowing how to applied all
the learning process to reality.

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 INTRODUCTION

New strait Times reported on Saturday, October 10 2009 that Malaysia is set to
use nuclear energy as an alternative energy source in order to generate cheapest electricity
through country by 2025. It is new development in science and technologies in our country.
This technology is already used in more than 30 countries since 1973. Between 1973 until
1990, the need of electricity used grew near 60 percent. So that we must have suitable and
reliable energy source to meet the worldwide requirements. Nuclear energy plan seem to
solve all the electricity requirement by world nations.
Nuclear energy plan produce electricity by uranium fission not by the burning of
fuels. Consequently , nuclear energy is clean as it do not emit any Carbon Dioxide and help
to mitigate global warming. Our country is now trying to apply this technology development
in order to fulfill our electric requirement that increase enormously day by day.
Through this concern about future life of our next generations, this article is
written in order to keep our eyes open about the suggestion to develop nuclear energy in
our country. By keeping the benefits of this energy as well as its advantages as our list,
hopefully we can finalize whether to proceed or keep this suggestion for a while, so that
there are no regret in future.

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To: Ministry Of Science, Technology And Environment

As my community’s representative, I would like to interact to whom that are concern

about the suggestion that Malaysia to use Nuclear Energy by 2023, which the idea is, to built up
the nuclear plan near my community which is located not far from sea. As nuclear energy is
claim to be cheapest energy source, but it contribute the negative effect either to us or to the
environment. It is undeniable that nuclear energy also serve many benefits but it seems to give
lots of disadvantages compared to its benefits. I would like to bring back the history in 1986,
there was an accident at Chernobyl nuclear facility in Soviet Union release radioactivity which
contribute to thousand of death because of malignant cancer as reported by World Health
organization (WHO). Virtually all radioactivity causes ionization in surrounding matter because
of emission collide with atom that dislodge electron ( ionization radiation).
Talk about ionization radiation, it has destructive effect on living tissue. If the ionized
atom is a key biological macromolecule or cell membrane, the result can devastating to the cell
and perhaps the organism. DNA in the chromosomes of the cell especially affected that
contribute to cell mutation. If this phenomenon really occurs, it is sure that ,we the nearest
community will gain the higher risk on cell destructions. We should rethink about this suggestion
again as said by our previous prime minister , Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad that reported in
News Strait time, May 27 2009.
A part from that, nuclear energy can also give harmful effects either to humankind or the
natural habitat. With quote form our former prime minister, “Despite millions tonnes of concrete
being poured into the site (the nuclear energy plan), the power plant is still emitting dangerous
radiation”, give us explanation why Tun Dr Mahathir exclude the use of nuclear energy during
his time. The radioactive waste is still unsolved although thousand years are given to dispose it.
This statement is quote from United State Environmental Protection Agency Standards
(USPAS). By referring to this statement, it prove that nuclear energy is not essential to be
develop as optional energy source in our country. Instead, there are lots of renewable energy
sources which can fully develop in safe way in our country like solar energy. Solar energy is
widely use nowadays in the other development country like United State of America, United
Kingdom, France, Lithuania and many more. It is true our country also used this solar power,
but the uses are still low. As our government are ready to invest high cost, about one to three
billion U.S dollar ( RM 3.5 to 10.5 billion) as initial cost to built up nuclear technology, as saying
by Malaysian Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Dato` Fadillah Yusuf. I think

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we should used this budget for solar energy development. It is wroth! As solar energy is claimed
as expensive renewable energy, in term of silicon use to built up it panel, Research Department
of Argonne laboratory U.S had creating next generation of nano-structured solar cell which
replaced expensive silicon for panel material to Titanium Dioxide. As solar energy is now turn to
inexpensive and cheap renewable energy, we can divide the budget on the other renewable
sources development like maintaining hydroelectric turbines so that the voltage capacity
increase. I think the authorities should rethink wisely. It is yes that our world scientists already
knew about how to construct this nuclear plan, but most of them do not know enough about
handling with nuclear waste. We should bear that nuclear waste took billion of thousand years
before decay! And the effect only show off after 20 years used it. It is not Worth! Therefore
nuclear energy is not sustainable energy because it is not renewable energy as it used Uranium
as it fuels. Uranium only limited in its amount and contradict the principle of sustainability .
On the other hand, nuclear power plants as well as it waste product could be the most
preferred targets for terrorist attack. It really risky to our country as well as it citizen. Nowadays,
with few examples from Americans attacking Iraq and Palestine, it already prove that nuclear
energy is risky to be used. There is no atomic energy plant in the world although it is well
planned and constructed with sophisticated materials and security could withstand an attack in
just similar to September 9, Pentagon attacked at New York. Such terrorist act would have
catastrophic effect for the whole world. Going back to history, when Pearl Harbors destroyed
enormously because attacked by Japanese and as it revenge, Hiroshima and Nagasaki being
attacked by atomic boom which cause life destructions until few decades. We fear to face this
risk, so that we hope this idea on using nuclear energy is rethink. Would we love to stay in a
country that unsafe anymore? Like liquor or alcohol are being prohibited because it contain
more bad effect to human being compared to its benefit, so that it is similar with nuclear energy.
We cannot deny the advantages of nuclear energy to us, but if we list down both benefits and
disadvantages, we will find that there are more disadvantages. Rethink, because every result
contribute to different effect to our next generations. Our motherland just only one. We do not
own it for our own, but we borrowing it from our grandchildren.
A possible type of reactor disaster is known as a meltdown where it is a fission reaction
phenomenon of an atom that out of control which contribute to nuclear explosion releasing great
amounts of radiation. Here, I will bring some examples of this meltdowns’ incident. Going back
to 1979 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania at Three Mile Island where a reactor coolant pump failed to
operate (malfunction). All the radiation escaped freely onto surrounding contribute tens of
thousands of people to run away although there were no death recorded because the problems

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was solved just few minutes before totally meltdown would have occurred. Just guess what will
happened if the problem cannot be solved in right time. As at 1986 there were a much disaster
hit Russia’s Chernobyl, Ukraine nuclear power plant where a large amount of radiation escaped
from reactor contribute to exposing of thousand of people around it to dangerously radiations.
High pressure steam and ignited graphite moderators rods caused the radiators to explode to
expel radioactive debris. Through this period of time, there are lot cases of naturally abortions,
premature birth, malignant cells in many bodies that finally contribute to death induced by this
killing radiations, contamination of vegetables and milk in much Europe and various kind of
health problems that seriously ill.
Statistics from German government 2003, shows that the risk of getting cancer is
increasingly among children that grow-up in the neighborhood of nuclear plan station especially
the blood cancer ( leukemia). The result shows that a children will have higher risk to get cancer
if they live just only 5 KM within a circle area of nuclear power plan. There was 1592 cases of
leukemia among children age less than 5 year old. According to normal statistical values, there
should only 48 cases of cancer and 17 cases of leukemia within the circle area. However there
were 77 cases of cancer which contribute to 60 percent more than expected values by German
government. By looking to this statistical data, it give concrete prove how insufficient nuclear
energy to be built up around our community. Children are essential for our country development
in future, they must stay in healthy condition and grow healthier. It just enough on all the type of
pollutant derived in our country, not necessary to add another one. Keep loving our children.
Instead, there was a statement state by Mohammad Zamzam Jaafar, Head of Tenaga
Nasional`s (TNB) nuclear unit said, Malaysia will hire Korea Electric Power Corporation
(KEPC)in order to assist Malaysia prepare fundamental feasibility study for Malaysia’s first
nuclear plant. An agreement already construct by TNB. It is undeniable that nuclear energy can
produce large amount of electric energy in an operation as according to MINT, (Broacher about
soalan-soalan yang kerap ditanya mengenai nuclear) generally a nuclear plan can produce
electricity between 500 MW until 1500 MW. In year 2007, the average amount of electricity
produced by a nuclear plan is 850 MW. And about 439 nuclear energy plan around 30 countries
that contribute on electricity production about 16 percent from the entire electricity around the
world. A report from nuclear power conference, Shangri- La, state that gas currently makes up
60 percent of Malaysia’s energy mix, but by 2027, the gas fields expected to be depleted, so
that it is essential for Malaysia to find another source of alternative energy in order to ensure the
electricity to this country always continue. All this facts are true, never deny it. But, by taking the
foreign technologist as well as their technologies, it is too costly. It is not even worse to all

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community. It is true that our scientist and technologist has golden opportunities to learn and
gaining extra sophisticated knowledge from them, but it still cannot make any sense s nuclear
energy still categorize as dangerous energy source.
Besides, nuclear energy also claims as clean energy source. It can help to mitigate
global warming by reduce the emission of Carbon Dioxide level in the surrounding better than
the fossil fuels or in easy word Petroleum. According to international Energy Agency (IEA), that
was investigated to which energy sources can really help to mitigate global warming by reduce
Carbon Dioxide imitation, shows that from all the measures proposed, nuclear energy was
found to have smallest effect on causing global warming. It just about 10 percent! This result
even more remarkable to face the fact from (IEA) that having no reservation to contradict
nuclear energy. In comparing coal and oil have Sulphur impurities that can cause smog and city
pollution, but nuclear fuel is pure without containing Sulphur. As nuclear energy produce
electricity through the fission of Uranium, not by burning of fuel, so that consequently nuclear
power do not pollute air. However, the use of nuclear energy application give highly problematic
because Carbon Dioxide emission must not be looked at independently of all risk and problems.
Instead, nuclear energy is not solution at all. This technology is still young. Lots of test and
research should be conducted in order to find the greatest way handling with it waste product,
atomic fission, cooling method and many more. Until the scientists fine the correct method in
controlling and handling, suitable materials to be used, it is better not to build up this energy
sources as it really risky either in economic phase because it used quiet large investment of
cash or bad effect to human being, other living organisms as well as our mother nature.
On the other hand, nuclear energy also claims as the only logical option now instead of
fossil fuels, unlike wind and radiant light from the sun or solar energy, nuclear power produced
high amount of energy. This is nuclear energy’s benefit which is undeniable. But, I still believe
that natural sources are very feasible to be use. It is true that fossil fuels is not renewable
energy , but notice that nuclear energy also non renewable energy source. Why we spend too
much research on nuclear energy that give high potential on causing disaster to mother nature
and us. In America, a man, non- scientist successfully discovered a way to used water as a way
to run off a car. It is amazing! Malaysia should encourage this kind of research as we live very
near to large water source if compared to our neighbors, Singapore as we have fully right and
authority on water sources around our country. So, I believe that Malaysia should put more
investment on water source development, not just used it as electric generator but more than
that. It worst to invest through it.

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 Rethink about this suggestion because it not only involved a person or an authority but
any effect either good or bad will contribute to all.

CONCLUSION

Overall, I as representative of my community disagree to built up nuclear energy plan

near our community area because it really give highly risk especially to us that stay around this
area. Radioactive debris contribute to humankind disaster by cell mutation so that normal cell
turn to malignant cells by mutation process, hence increase numbers of cancer among
community. Nuclear energy plan also dangerous if our country being attack by terrorist as it can
be a significant point to be attack first. Once again, we totally disagree with the suggestion to
develop nuclear plan.

Thank you.

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 REFERENCES

1) Darrel D. Ebbing, Mark S. Wrighton; Wayne State university and Washington university
in St. Louis, 1996: General Chemistry fifth edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, pg 836-
838, 851-854.
2) Martin S. Silberberg, 2009: Chemistry, The Molecular Nature Of Matter and Change fifth
edition, McGraw Hill, pg 1064-1066,1080,1082,1099.
3) http:// www. Mosti.my ( Official web side Malaysian nuclear agency)
4) Broacher from Malaysian nuclear agency; Soalan - soalan yang kerap ditanya
mengenai kuasa nuclear , printed in year 2008.
5) Celina Trevino, Omar Alatorre : Article of Advantages And Disadvantages of Nuclear
Energy .
6) http://www.wikianswer.com
7) http://www.chemistry .nmsu.edu/ notes/nuclear_energy.html
8) http://www.chemguide .co.uk/nuclear.html
9) http://www.answer.yahoo.com/question/qid
10) http://chem.vmimona.edu.jm/lab_manual.html
11) http://wikipedia.com./nuclear_energy.html
12) http://timeforchange.org/nuclear-power-consumption-per-capita-by-country