RENOWNED astrophysicist Tan Sri Mazlan Othman emphasised the critical need for the government to ramp up investment in Malaysia’s national space technology programme.
She highlighted that while the country has made strides in space science education, there is a notable lag in space technology, an area crucial for industry advancement.
“We’re not too far behind (the likes of Japan) in terms of space science because almost all the major universities in Malaysia have some kind of space curriculum.
“But I think where we are lacking most now is in space technology. That’s where the industry is,” she said.
Malaysia’s venture into space technology dates back to 1996 with the launch of communications satellites Measat 1 and Measat 2, followed by Tiungsat-1 in 2000.
However, subsequent endeavours like Razaksat in 2009 and InnoSAT-2 in 2018 have faced challenges, signalling the necessity for renewed governmental support.
Putrajaya provided the Malaysian Space Agency (Mysa) about RM7.68 mil in funding in 2018, plus a further RM62.1 mil in 2019 to develop remote sensing capabilities.
Despite recent allocations, including RM10 mil in the 2024 budget for various technology sectors including the aerospace division of Mysa, Mazlan stressed the need for more substantial commitments.
She also urged the government to commission additional satellites, citing the vital role of governmental incentives in attracting private sector investment.
“If we don’t commission (more) satellites and the government is not providing any incentives, they (the private sector) won’t come in and invest either,” she claimed.
Moreover, Mazlan underscored the pivotal role of government involvement in space programmes referencing successful initiatives in countries like India, China, and Japan.
“There’s no country in the world right now that is purely private sector driven.”
While acknowledging the emerging potential of startups in the space sector, she noted the necessity for governmental leadership, drawing attention to Singapore’s US$150 mil grant for space entrepreneurs in 2022 as a model to emulate.
“The government has to somehow lead the way to make things easier for the private sector to invest in the industry. We’re trying to do that now but we have only just started.” – Feb 16, 2024
Main photo credit: FMT
