EVALUATING ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY IN THE INSTITUTIONAL CONTROL PHASE OF A RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY

Abstract

This study evaluates the alignment between empirical safety performance and stakeholder perception at Malaysia’s first near-surface repository for Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) waste in Perak, now in its long-term Institutional Control phase. The research employs a quantitative case study design, conducting a parallel analysis of two data streams: (1) five years of official environmental monitoring data (2020–2024) from Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program (REMP) and Radiological Safety Analysis Report (RSAR) reports, and (2) a structured survey of 42 key stakeholders, including local residents and facility workers. The environmental analysis confirms that the repository operates in full compliance with national standards, with all radiological measurements in soil, water, and air remaining well below regulatory limits and the annual public dose kept below the 1 mSv/year threshold. In stark contrast, the stakeholder survey reveals a critical paradox: while respondents express high levels of trust in the facility’s operator and the national regulator, they show significant scepticism and low confidence in the accuracy of the official environmental data that confirms the facility's safety. This study concludes that a significant socio-technical divide exists, where high institutional trust has not translated into informational confidence. While the repository is technically safe, its long-term stewardship and social acceptance require moving beyond simply publishing safety reports. To bridge this perception gap, the study recommends implementing targeted communication strategies that make technical data accessible, understandable, and verifiable for all stakeholders, thereby transforming passive trust into active, informed confidence.