KUALA LUMPUR: The Government has decided not to pursue the development of nuclear power for the nation, says Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin (pic).

"The Government has decided not to develop nuclear power. In light of this, the Malaysian Nuclear Power Corporation (MNPC) will be shut down," she said when winding up her ministerial reply on Budget 2020 in Parliament on Wednesday (Nov 20).

She clarified that the Malaysian Nuclear Agency will not be affected by the decision to close the MNPC.

"The nuclear agency does not make nuclear power as the development of nuclear science," she added, saying that nuclear science was relevant in several industries which are not related to the production of nuclear power.

MNPC was set up in 2011 to study the possible use of nuclear power in the country with the previous administration announcing plans to develop a nuclear power plant after 2030.

On a separate matter, Yeo said a total of 115,207 households registered under e-Kasih have received the RM40 monthly electricity rebate so far.

"This is a six-fold increase in the number of households benefiting under the programme compared to the 18,738 households that were receiving the RM20 monthly rebates under the programme previously," she said.

She added that the government has set aside RM104mil next year for the targeted subsidy programme meant for the hardcore poor.