Angkasawan (astronaut) Programme
Survey: Most Malaysians do not take Angkasawan Programme seriously, says official
KUALA LUMPUR: Most Malaysians do not take the National Angkasawan Programme seriously, and programme director Col Dr Zulkeffeli Mat Jusoh is not happy with this.
“A recent survey revealed that they still think it’s a waste of time and money, and that we’re just going to undertake a ‘little’ science project once our angkasawan (astronaut) is sent into space.
“Worse, many are still under the assumption that we are going to play gasing (top) or make teh tarik (tea) in space. *
* I’m sorry, Director. You really can’t blamed us. Please take a moment have a look on the news reported on last year after the programme was announced. Read it by yourself, what were highlighted in that news. Do you think there was no misconception in the news also?
I still remember, my teachers taught me when write a news, interesting or important points must in first few paragraphs; however, when write an essay, it was the other way round. Either my teachers were wrong or the news in this case.
On November 15, 2006
Malaysia’s first astronaut to do what no one in space has done before
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s first astronaut will do what no one in space has done before: play traditional Malay children’s games without gravity.
The astronaut - yet to be selected - will play “batu seremban,” or “five stones” and spin traditional Malay tops in space, Agriculture Ministry parliamentary secretary Rohani Abdul Karim told parliament on Wednesday.
Rohani, who was replying on behalf of the Science, Technology and Innovations Ministry, said the astronaut would also do batik painting and making teh tarik.
She said this in reply to comments made by MPs on what the Malaysian astronaut might do in the International Space Station.
Rohani said the training programme for the Malaysian astronaut in Russia would not cost the Treasury a single sen.
Replying to Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh (BN-Putatan), she said the programme was provided free of charge as part of an offset programme for the purchase pf Sukhoi fighter aircraft from Russia.
She said the benefits of the programme for the country were numerous, including the opportunity to conduct scientific experiments in space.
“Such experiments will also be studied by our own scientists in the medical, science and educational fields.
“Schoolchildren will be further motivated to increase their interests in science and technology when our astronaut holds a live teleconference with students from several selected schools,” she said, adding that the astronaut would also conduct several experience on micro-gravity in front of the television camera.
Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and Kapten Dr Faiz Khaleed, who had been selected for Malaysia’s first astronaut programme, are now undergoing training for a year in Russia before departing for the International Space Station.
Only one of them will board a Russian rocket for eight days of space travel on Sept 2 next year.
Normally, people will read the first few paragraphs of that news then will go for other news. Well, maybe this is not convince enough, how about this article?
Since my column was published, plans for a new RM400 million Istana have been announced and the Agriculture Ministry parliamentary secretary has told Parliament that Malaysia’s first astronaut will be playing batu seremban and spinning tops and making teh tarik while in space. There are countless scientists around the world who would give anything for the opportunity to go to space and do real experiments. For the Malaysian government to send an astronaut into space to play Malay children’s games serves only to re-emphasise my point about waste. Not only that, it makes Malaysia look infantile in the eyes of the rest of the world, which is a great pity when Malaysia has made so many real achievements.
Director, you really have to forgive us.
TechTags Plugin [ astronaut | angkasawan | Malaysia | Russia | science ]
