KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 — A Ministry of Health (MOH) investigation found no radiation safety violations at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) that could be linked to an alleged cancer “cluster”, said the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti).
The statement on the probe by the MOH’s medical radiation regulatory division (BKRP) was issued by Mosti’s atomic energy department in relation to the emergence of several cases of cancer and thyroid disorders at UMMC’s nuclear medicine unit.
“Based on the Atomic Energy Act 1984 (Act 304) and the Atomic Energy Licensing (Amendment) Act 2025 (A1779), the licensing authority for radioactive materials, nuclear materials, and radiation-generating equipment for non-medical purposes is the director general of the Atomic Energy Department (Atom Malaysia), while for medical purposes it is the director-general of health, Ministry of Health Malaysia,” said Mosti in a statement yesterday.
“Accordingly, in line with legal provisions, the Medical Radiation Regulatory Division (BKRP), MOH, has conducted an investigation into the allegation of a cancer cluster at UMMC. The findings of the investigation indicate that there are no critical radiation safety compliance issues that can be linked to the alleged cancer cluster in the unit concerned.
“Atom Malaysia and BKRP remain committed to ensuring the safety of radiation workers and the public. Strict action, as provided under Act 304, will be taken against any individual or license holder who fails to comply with Act 304, its regulations, and licensing conditions.”
CodeBlue has requested a statement from the MOH for details on its own investigation into the matter.
UMMC, a quaternary university hospital in the Klang Valley, has denied allegations that radiation safety breaches in its facility caused cancer and thyroid diseases among at least seven staff members.
Nur Fauzia Abdul Razak – a former X-ray technician at UMMC’s nuclear medicine unit who has been diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin lymphoma – told a press conference last Friday that three staff members were diagnosed with lung cancer, leukaemia, and breast cancer, while four others were diagnosed with thyroid diseases after installation of a PET-CT machine several years ago. All of them were working at UMMC’s radiology department.
She also alleged 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.
