Malaysia's Astronaut Programme Not For Vanity - Bernama

SHAH ALAM, April 17 (Bernama) -- The government is not sending Malaysians into space merely to gain recognition or for national pride, says Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili.

Instead, he said, the programme was a means to advancement in science and technology in the country, particularly in space science.

"The space science programme covers a wide scope that includes scientific and technological development, education and inculcating interest in the field among the young.

"We are not like the United States of America or the United Kingdom where space science has developed for a long time and they have been sending their astronauts into space for national pride.

"Malaysia has only begun. We need to improve in several areas, especially in getting our people to appreciate the importance of our astronaut programme," Ongkili told reporters after his visit to Sirim Berhad, here today.

He said based on the achievements of the nations's first astronaut, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha who was at the International Space Station in October last year, the response from young people to know more about space science had been encouraging.

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