Malaysian Nuclear Agency And APU Establish Smart Public - Private Collaboration

BANGI, 29 DECEMBER 2021 - Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuklear Malaysia), under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), today inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) at the Malaysian Nuclear Agency Complex at Bangi.


Ts. Dr. Siti A’iasah Hashim (2nd from left) Director-General of Malaysian Nuclear Agency, exchange signed MoU with Dr. Hari Narayanan, the Vice-Chancellor of APU (2nd from right). The signing was witnessed by Datuk Parmjit Singh, CEO of APU (Centre). Looking on are (from left) Dr. Abdul Rahim Harun, Deputy Director-General, Research & Technology Development Programme; Prof Dr. Angelina Yee, Director of Research & Enterprise, APU.

This MoU is a strategic public-private collaboration between the two institutions in a broad range of areas, including research and development (R&D), sharing of expertise, joint development of training programmes, technology transfer and commercialisation, academic and educational publications and staff attachments involving Information Technology (IT) and relevant Engineering fields, to address current and future needs and national development. These efforts also include student placements for industrial training and joint research collaborations for Masters’ and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes. 

At the signing ceremony, both parties were represented by their respective signatories Ts. Dr. Siti A’iasah Hashim, Director-General of Malaysian Nuclear Agency, and Dr. Hari Narayanan, the Vice-Chancellor of APU. The signing was witnessed by Datuk Parmjit Singh, CEO of APU. 

This collaboration was initiated during the reciprocal visits of both parties on 29th November and 2nd December 2021 where after discussions, both parties agreed to work together in specific areas involving data management systems on spent nuclear fuel, the use of robotics and drones to deal with radioactive materials, the application of virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) in nuclear operations and/or education, data security framework, mathematical modelling in data analytics and many more. The discussion also touched on post-academic training, upskilling and reskilling relating to IT, management, and leadership skills for the Malaysian Nuclear Agency’s staff, as well as opportunities for postgraduate Masters and PhD studies at APU. 


During the campus visit to APU on Dec 2, 2021, Nuklear Malaysia DG, Ts. Dr. Siti A’iasah Hashim (centre) and her colleagues - Dr Kamarudin bin Samuding, Director of Waste Technology & Environment Division (2nd from left) and Dr Rasif Mohd Zain of Research Management Centre (1st from right) were welcomed by Prof Dr. Angelina Yee (1st from left) and Datuk Parmjit Sigh (2nd from right).

APU has invested in fore-front advanced digital technologies and expertise to support research in technologies such as virtual reality, robotics, the internet of things (IoT), gaming and apps, and artificial intelligence. Nuklear Malaysia on the other hand, has a nuclear reactor, gamma greenhouse and the other only such facilities in Malaysia. With this collaboration, both parties would be able to leverage each other’s state-of-art research facilities and expertise in R&D and accelerate the commercialisation of such research outputs.

The Director-General of the Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Ts. Dr. Siti A’iasah Hashim said that the Agency is always pushing new frontiers in innovation and technology.

“Nuklear Malaysia has established itself as the country’s main promoter of nuclear science and technology for peaceful uses. Through this collaboration, we welcome APU’s students to explore a new learning space where they can learn the benefits of nuclear power which are normally plagued with undesirable narratives. At the same time, I’m sure Nuklear Malaysia can take advantage of APU’s expertise in advanced digital technologies and data analytics to enhance our R&D,” commented Ts. Dr. Siti A’iasah. 

“We are very pleased to work with leading higher learning institutions such as APU to lead joint programmes in IT and engineering,” she said, adding that “This move will be the aspiration and motivation for Nuklear Malaysia to continue to innovate throughout the region."

Ts. Dr. Siti A’iasah Hashim (from left) Director-General of Malaysian Nuclear Agency, introduce the timeline history of the agency to APU’s delegation at the Agency’s Excellence Gallery. From 2nd left are Datuk Parmjit Singh, CEO of APU; Dr. Hari Narayanan, the Vice-Chancellor of APU; and Mr. Muhammad Anis Ur Rehman, Senior Director of Student Services, APU.

Datuk Parmjit Singh thanked the Malaysian Nuclear Agency for their foresight in forging strong public-private, industry-academia partnerships in R&D and advanced technology. 

“We are optimistic that, with this collaboration, we will take a step forward in innovation and further benefit both organisations in developing viable technology solutions in support of safe and sustainable uses of nuclear science and technologies. This effort will also enhance skills and knowledge resulting in employable graduates who are smart, energetic, excellent, agile, and competitive at the national and global levels whilst making a difference in their chosen careers. We can apply our knowledge, expertise and skills in IT and engineering research into nuclear-related R&D areas through our collaboration with the Malaysian Nuclear Agency. Access to facilities in Malaysian Nuclear Agency will be an added value to our R&D," he said.