Sabah embarks on space launch facility study
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Sabah Science, Technology and Innovation minister Arifin Arif (centre) at the award ceremony with permanent secretary Datuk Zainuddin Aman (left) and Sovereign Sengalang deputy executive chairman Ezra Effendi.
PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
KOTA KINABALU - Sabah will be among 16 locations in the world to have its own space launch facility if a feasibility study to build the site in the east Malaysian state goes well.
Sabah Science, Technology and Innovation minister Arifin Arif said the state would initiate the study as the first step following the formation of the Sabah Space Industrial Corporation which has been agreed by the state Cabinet.
If it is found that the state is suitable, Datuk Arifin said, this would make Malaysia only the ninth country worldwide to have a space launch facility.
“If the study goes well, we will create history by having the world’s 16th space launching facility and put Sabah and Malaysia’s names in the global aerospace industry,” he said during an award ceremony for his ministry on Tuesday.
“We will set up the Sabah Space Industrial Corporation (which) will work closely with the Malaysian Space Agency to implement initiatives to develop the aeronautics industry in Sabah.
“This proposal has been tabled and received the approval from the state Cabinet,” he added.
At the award ceremony at the Sabah International Convention Centre here, the Letter of Intent (LoI) was awarded to local company Sovereign Sengalang to undertake a feasibility study on the International Space Launch Industrial Centre (SLIC), of which the exact site would be determined later.
The LoI was presented by the ministry’s permanent secretary Datuk Zainuddin Aman to Sovereign Sengalang deputy executive chairman Ezra Effendi.
If the SLIC materialises, Datuk Arifin said, it would provide the avenue to create between 300 and 500 companies in the aerospace industry and subsequently create 5,000 job opportunities, including 90 high-paying positions.
He added that the study would take about 1½ years to be completed.
Mr Ezra said the state’s unique position close to the equator line made it suitable to have a launching facility.
The first stage of the feasibility study, he said, would involve the environmental, safety and infrastructural aspects.
He added that they might take three to six months before finalising the site to be earmarked for the launch facility. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
