Picture: Dr. Sheik Muszaphar of Malaysia blasts off into space today. (Picture courtesy of NST).
10/10/07
By Roger J Duyong
SARAWAK, MALAYASIA: After achieving its independence from its colonial masters fifty years ago, Malaysia has already entered the exclusive club of space technology when it sent its first cosmonaut today.
Represented by two young Malaysian doctors, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and Capt. Dr. Faiz Khaleed, the duo will make every Malaysian proud of them. Only one of them however, will be selected for Malaysia’s inaugural flight into space.
The media said that Dr. Sheik Muszaphar would likely be the first choice as indicated by the Russian scientists responsible to bring them in the space expedition. However, Capt. Dr. Faiz would take over if Dr. Sheikh were unable to ‘perform’ even four hours before blast off.
With the space expedition, though it was described by some party as ‘space fight participants’, it is nevertheless a major milestone for a young, ‘third-world’ country like Malaysia. It has a long tern plan to send more Malaysian cosmonauts and perhaps astronauts in the future. Its seriousness in such undertaking is indicated by the fact that it has formed a ministry called Ministry of Space and Technolgy sevral years ago.
The young country also is now rubbing shoulders with other ‘giants’ in the industry and makes it he first ever developing country into space business. Perhaps, even its former colonial masters looks at it with envy.
With its maiden space flight, Malaysia also leads all the developing countries around Southeast Asia and the world in the space race. Many people believed that other developing countries would follow suit, taking the cue from Malaysia’s experience.
Malaysia is able to send its first citizen into space due an agreement with the Russian government a few years ago when Malaysia bought billions of dollars worth of weaponry and warplanes from Russia.
The country has been receiving congratulatory messages from many countries, including those from the Middle East. But most importantly, thousands of Malaysians had expressed their pride and gratefulness over the event. With pages of their faces on the main print media, such as the New Strait Times, young and old had said they would remember the blast-off as one of the most important events after the Independence Day.
All the print and electronic media in the country featured the event on their front pages. "Giant Leap for Malaysians" New Strait Times shouted on its front page. "Flight Into History" says The Star daily.
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