KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 — Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) has denied allegations that radiation safety breaches in its facility caused cancer and thyroid diseases among at least seven staff members.
The university hospital in the Klang Valley insisted that PET-CT scanning operations were carried out in accordance with strict safety standards and that radiation exposure levels complied with established standards. All radiation workers are also required to wear personal dosimeters.
“Official records show that staff radiation exposure levels are significantly lower and remain below the prescribed dose limits,” Universiti Malaya (UM) said in a statement today.
“An inspection by the Medical Radiation Regulatory Division (BKRP), Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH), in October 2025 found no procedural violations, and UMMC was compliant with all applicable regulations.
“Annual licence inspection visits by BKRP enforcement authorities are also conducted in accordance with required standards and compliance.
“UMMC remains open to inspections by authorities to ensure continuous compliance with all regulations and safety standards. The management assures that work environments involving radiation are safe and continuously monitored by certified regulatory bodies, and urges all parties not to spread unfounded speculation that may cause public concern.”
UM also maintained that its quaternary hospital fully complied with various legislations, namely the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the Radiation Protection Programme, Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984 (Act 304), Atomic Energy Licensing (Basic Safety Radiation Protection) Regulations 2010, and Atomic Energy Licensing (Radioactive Waste Management) Regulations 2011.
Nur Fauzia Abdul Razak, a former X-ray technician at UMMC’s nuclear medicine unit, told a press conference earlier today that she was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at stage four, a cancer that affects the lymphatic system.
Malaysiakini reported that three other staff members were diagnosed with lung cancer, leukaemia, and breast cancer, while four others were diagnosed with thyroid diseases. All of them were working at UMMC’s radiology department.
Fauzia reportedly attributed the cases to the installation of a PET-CT machine at the university hospital several years ago.
New Straits Times reported Fauzia as alleging that BKRP’s official report contradicted an admission by four BKRP enforcement officers during a virtual meeting with her last February 14 that there were clear breaches of standard operating procedures (SOP) at UMMC’s nuclear medicine unit.
She also reportedly claimed that a second “secret” visit was conducted by BKRP officials without the knowledge of hospital management, with the meeting agenda mentioning “non-compliance with licensing”.
Fauzia further claimed that staff preparing Gamma-emitting isotopes were denied full personal protective equipment (PPE), but allegedly given only “basic lead shielding that only covered parts of the body”.
The woman plans to sue UMMC.
