Nuclear Malaysia, was established through a decision of the Cabinet on 19 September 1972, and had undergone a number of name changes, before assuming its  current identity.

As stipulated in the Ministers of the Federal Government (Amendment) Order (No. 2) 2005 (P.U. (A) 312) under the Ministerial Functions Act of 1969, made on 30 March 2005, as was gazetted in the Government Gazette Vol. 49, No. 17, dated 25 August 2005, the functions of the Malaysian Nuclear Agency are as follows:

•Conduct research and development (R&D), services and training in nuclear technology for national development;

•Promote the application, transfer and commercialization of nuclear technology; and,

•Coordination and management of nuclear affairs at national and international levels and as liaison agency for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In addition to these functions, the Cabinet had decided, on 24 June 1998, to designate the Malaysian Nuclear Agency or MINT, as it was still known as then, as the National Authority for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty itself.