Atomic Energy Act 1984

Atomic Energy Act 1984
Parliament of Malaysia
  • An Act to provide for the regulation and control over activities involving atomic energy, for adequate protection for the public and the environment from the harmful effects of activities involving atomic energy, the safety of activities involving atomic energy and security of radioactive material, nuclear material and facilities, the application of relevant measures for safeguards and liability for nuclear damage, and to provide for related matters.
CitationAct 304
Territorial extentMalaysia
Passed byDewan Rakyat
Passed6 April 1984
Passed byDewan Negara
Passed25 April 1984
Royal assent27 June 1984
Commenced1 February 1985 [P.U. (B) 44/1985]
Legislative history
Initiating chamber: Dewan Rakyat
Introduced byAbdullah Ahmad Badawi - Minister in the Prime Minister's Department
First reading13 March 1984
Second reading6 April 1984
Third reading6 April 1984
Revising chamber: Dewan Negara
Member(s) in chargeAbdullah Ahmad Badawi - Minister in the Prime Minister's Department
First reading9 April 1984
Second reading25 April 1984
Third reading25 April 1984
Repeals
Radioactive Substances Act 1968 [Act 17 of 1968]
Amended by
Atomic Energy Licensing (Amendment) Act 2025 [Act A1779]
Related legislation
Strategic Trade Act 2010
Keywords
Atomic energy, Atomic Energy Licensing Board, Nuclear material, Radioactive material
Status: In force

Atomic Energy Act 1984 (Malay: Akta Tenaga Atom 1984), formerly known as Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984, is the main legislation that governs the use of atomic energy and nuclear materials in Malaysia. It also established the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB)[a], which oversees the regulation and licensing of nuclear installation, radioactive material, nuclear material, and irradiating apparatus in Malaysia.[1][2]

History

In the 1960s, radiation and radioisotopes began to gain considerable utilization in the fields of research, engineering and medicine in Malaysia, particularly the use of X-ray in public and private healthcare facilities. This prompted the government to pass the Radioactive Substances Act 1968 to regulate their uses.[3]

However, after Malaysia's accession to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 1969 and the construction of the TRIGA PUSPATI research reactor in Bangi in 1972, use of radition and radioisotopes in various fields increased significantly and the Malaysian government deemed the Radioactive Substances Act 1968 no longer be able to provide an adequate regulatory framework to control the use of atomic energy and nuclear materials.[3]

Hence, the Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984 was proposed and passed by the Dewan Rakyat on 6 April 1984,[3] and by the Dewan Negara on 25 April the same year.[4] On 1 February 1985, the Act fully came into force.[1]

The Act remain unamended for 41 years until 2025, where a major amendment was passed to broaden the regulatory framework under the Act in compliance with international standards,[5][6] and to explicitly ban the use and manufacturing of nuclear weapons.[7][8][9][10] The amendment, which partially came into force on 1 December 2025,[11][5] also provide a new regulatory framework for future adoption of nuclear power in Malaysia, but the government indicated that Malaysia will only decide on its adoption after 2030.[6][12]

This Act is divided into 13 parts and one schedule, as follows:[1][13]

  • Part I: Preliminary
  • Part II: Atomic Energy Licensing Board (repealed)
  • Part IIA: Atomic Energy Advisory Council
  • Part III: Control and Licensing
  • Part IV: Cancellation, Suspension and Renewal of Licenses and Permits
  • Part V: Health and Safety
  • Part VA: Security
  • Part VB: Safeguards
  • Part VI: Decommissioning and Management of Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel
  • Part VII: Appeals
  • Part VIII: Inspection and Enforcement
  • Part VIIIA: Offences Relating to Security
  • Part IX: Liability for Nuclear Damage
  • Part X: General
  • Schedule

Licensing

Under Section 15 and 16 of the Act, the AELB handles the licensing of all non-medical-related nuclear activities, while the licensing power of medical-related nuclear activities or apparatus is delegated to the Director General of Health under the Health Ministry.[14]

Note

  1. ↑ Now Department of Atomic Energy of Malaysia (Atom Malaysia) since June 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984 [Act 304]" (PDF). Federal Legislation. 1 December 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  2. ↑ Sue Suet Yan, Daphne; Sivanantham, Dhanya Laxmi (8 November 2023). "A Comprehensive Overview of Atomic Energy Licensing in Malaysia". Azmi & Associates. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "Penyata Rasmi Dewan Rakyat [6 April 1984]" [Parliamentary Debates of the House of Representatives [6 April 1984]] (PDF). Parliament of Malaysia (in Malay). 6 April 1984. pp. 69–72. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "Penyata Rasmi Dewan Negara [25 April 1984]" [Parliamentary Debates of the Senate [25 April 1984]] (PDF). Parliament of Malaysia. 25 April 1984. pp. 92–98. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Act A1779 Gazetted, Atomic Energy Regulatory Scope Expanded". Bernama. 2 December 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Parliament passes Atomic Energy Licensing (Amendment) Bill 2025". The Star. Bernama. 25 August 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "Dewan Rakyat lulus pindaan larang senjata nuklear" [Dewan Rakyat passed amendment to ban nuclear weapon]. Malaysiakini (in Malay). 25 August 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Govt explicitly bans atomic weapons as M'sia pursues nuclear energy". Malaysiakini. 25 August 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  9. ↑ Tang, Ashley (2 December 2025). Petty, Martin (ed.). "Malaysia tightens nuclear controls under amended law". Reuters. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Malaysia tightens nuclear law". Nuclear Engineering International. 12 December 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "Appointment of Date of Coming into Operation [P.U. (B) 425/2025]" (PDF). Federal Legislation (LOM). 28 November 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "Malaysia updates nuclear Act". Nuclear Engineering International. 27 August 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "Atomic Energy Licensing (Amendment) Act 2025 [Act A1779]" (PDF). Federal Legislation (LOM). 28 November 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  14. ↑ Jamal, Noriah; Abdul Rashid, Faisal Izwan; Baharuddin, Bashillah; Sidid Omar, Mohd Azmi; Raja Hedar, Raja Jamal; Abu Bakar, Abdul Quddoos; Zolkaffly, Muhammed Zulfakar; Mat Sali, Siti Syarina; Abdul Kadir, Aisya Raihan (2019). Overview on the Development of Utilisation of Nuclear Technology in Malaysia. Research and Development Seminar Nuklear Malaysia 2018, Bangi (Malaysia), 30 Oct - 1 Nov 2018. Bangi (Malaysia): Malaysian Nuclear Agency. pp. 271–275. ISBN 978-967-9970-62-3 – via IAEA International Nuclear Information System.
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