Nerdy Science Blog

Malaysian Cabinet decided to sponsor another space tourist Dr Faiz Khaleed and they were looking for its budget.  Today Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili told the reporters that there was no money left in his ministry.

The Star:

“Under the mid-term review, I can say that there is zero money. If we want to proceed with the second phase we have to look for money,” Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili told reporters after the launch of the Creativity and Innovation Day 2008 celebrations at KL Tower yesterday.

As the first space trip expense was not planned wisely, which caused the backup space tourist, Dr Faiz Khaleed, could not proceed his space travelling trip.  Even so, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak still did not give up the programme.  He said Dr Faiz will still continue his training and government will think of ways to sponsor Dr Faiz’s luxury space trip.  Guess Dr. Faiz was not as lucky as Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Sheikh Shukor as Sheikh’s trip was funded by Defence Ministry as it bought Sukhoi SU30MKM fighter jets from Russian Government.  Doesn’t the cartoon above reminds you of Dr Sheikh who was sent to space to enjoy satay and other Malaysian food?

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BERNAMA:

April 14, 2008 16:04 PM

Cabinet To Discuss Budget To Send Second Astronaut Into Space

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) — The cabinet will discuss the budget to sent a second astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2011, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said Monday.

He said at the moment the government wanted to continue with the programme even though it had not yet allocated a budget for the purpose.

“At the moment, the money for the second phase has not been allocated yet. That’s why the government will have to decide on the next plan,” he told reporters after visiting the Academy of Sciences Malaysia here Monday.

Ongkili said the government had not responded yet to the Russian government whether to continue with the programme as it needed to study the budget as well as the impact of the first phase of the programme.

He said the government needed about two months to decide on the matter, afterwhich the decision would be conveyed to the Russian space agency, Roskosmos.

Astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha was chosen to travel to the ISS in the first phase of the programme in October last year.

Major Dr Faiz Khaleed, 26, who underwent training with Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, had been named as the astronaut for the second phase of the mission.

– BERNAMA

Although the decision whether to send another Malaysian tax-payers sponsored space traveller to enjoy his luxury ’scientific’ space trip was still undecided few days ago, today the Malaysian were being told that the Cabinet will send another space traveller and they are still discussing how much money they should spend on it. No beneficial impact was observable from the first space trip (either short-term or long-term) by me and other Malaysians, except the Russian government.

How much more government is going to spend on this white elephant project that only benefits Russian government, particular industries in the states and selected space traveller? Why the allocation of the budget is not planned during the first phase of the programme as they already decided to send second space traveller at that time? Halt the project or continue the programme has larger negative impact to the counry?

Noted that it is the GOVERNMENT who wants to continue this space travelling and cause country in debt, but not the tax-payers who want it.

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BERNAMA:

KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 (Bernama) — Technology Park Malaysia (TPM), which is expected to play a bigger role in the development of the biotechnology sector, has to go out and explore the opportunities in the states, said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili.

He said TPM Corp Sdn Bhd’s subsidiary, TPM Biotech Sdn Bhd, was viewed as the “powerhouse” of the biotech sector and it has to reach out to states with rich biodiversity such as Sabah and Sarawak, and tap their indigenous medical knowledge.

“There is a need for TPM to decentralise its services and to reach out to the states, and we hope it will do it during the remainder of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) period.

“We don’t have to follow the modus operandi of the past. They (TPM) can perhaps work with the state governments who would provide land and facilities, or other business networking,” he told reporters after paying a visit to TPM here Thursday.

He said the government wanted to focus on the biotech sector and the pioneering works that had been done by TPM had set the pace for the projects undertaken under 9MP.

“In the last three years since TPM set up its biotech segment, 192 companies had sought its assistance and services, 42 had gone into manufacturing or production via TPM and three had international-level collaborations with pharmaceutical companies,” he said.

Ongkili said TPM sent a team to Sabah recently to explore opportunities in developing biotech industry within the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) and would do a similar feasibility study in Sarawak.

TPM president/chief executive, Datuk Mohd Azman Shahidin, said following the visit, it collaborated with the Institute of Development Studies Sabah to study whether it was socially and economically viable to grow the sector under SDC.

He said the ministry planned to set up a National Innovation Foundation to acknowledge and reward people who have come up with innovations that add value to a product or livelihood of the people.

“I will discuss further details with the Cabinet which will make the final decision,” he said.

TPM is one of the world’s most advanced and comprehensive centres for research and development of knowledge-based industries. TMC Corp is a government-linked company.

– BERNAMA

I do hope Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili can make science jobs one of the highest pay in the states as well.

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BERNAMA 31/3/2008

Minister To Decide On Space Programme

SEREMBAN (Malaysia), March 31 (Bernama) — Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili will decide whether the national space programme is continued, the country’s second astronaut Mej Dr Faiz Khaleed said Monday.

Faiz said he would meet Ongkili soon to discuss the minister’s strategy in implementing the space programme.

“Right now we are at an early stage of putting forward suggestions and the final decision will be made by the minister,” he told reporters Monday.

Yes, it’s not too late to stop now.

Faiz said this after his inaugural appearance as the National Service (NS) icon and the opening of the NS’s training session by Deputy Defence Minister Abu Seman Yusop in Mantin near here.

He said the national space programme which was introduced last year was well received as it had a big impact on the country, not only for research but also on changing the mindset of the people, especially the young, on space exploration.

Yes, mindsets of people are changed. Young voters vote for oppositions. Dumb people science is about rocketing to the sky. Many people think that science is a childplay in space.

“The space industry is not only about astronauts but is an industry by itself. That is why we must continue the programme,” Faiz said.

Totally agree with Faiz. It’s about using the taxpayers money to bring fortune to the industry, and don’t forget the space traveller as well.

Faiz also said he hoped to exchange views with the trainees on the NS training in his effort to instil noble values and determination in them.

It’s nothing nobel in space traveller who use taxpayers’ money for his own luxury travelling.

Meanwhile, Abu Seman said as NS icon, Faiz served as a role model and provided motivation for the NS trainees.

“We will formulate programmes for Dr Faiz to meet trainees in selected camps,” he said.

– BERNAMA

That’s just what Faiz want, FAME.

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MOSTI to retain policies under new minister
By : Farrah Naz Karim

PUTRAJAYA, Mon:

The new Science, Technology and Innovation minister has promised that old policies will stay. Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said he will be meeting department heads over the next month to keep track of the progress of ongoing programmes and those in the pipeline.

“Only then can we think about new initiatives that need to be carried out to stir the people’s interest in science and technology,” he said at a handing-over-of-duties ceremony at his ministry here, formally taking over from former minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis. Also present was newly-appointed deputy minister Fadillah Yusof.

On the top of Ongkili’s agenda is the need to dispel the notion among some that science and technology was only for the elite and those trained in the fields.

On plans to send Mej. Dr Mohd Faiz Khaleed to the international space station (ISS) in 2011, he said it would go on as planned.

He said the Malaysian Space Programme would also have value-added factors to increase public awareness of advancements in science and technology.
“All programmes under the Ministry would be value-added so that the importance of science and technology will reach rural folk,” he said.

No more Space Programme in Malaysia please. This is one of the reasons for the defeat of ruling coalition in recent election. Please fund more to research labs in stead of sponsoring more people to space travelling. Please increases the salary paid of researchers in Malaysia to attracts more people coming back Malaysia to work and also being more productive.

(news)

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Malaysia Prime Minister had announced the new Cabinet after the recent election.

Science, Technology and Innovation
Minister - Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili

• Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics - La Trobe University, Australia
• Fellowship and Summer Programmes - United Nations University, Tokyo and Harvard Institute for International Developmen, Boston.

Deputy - Fadillah Yusof

The above people are who Malaysia’s scientists should closely examine for the next four years. They are the key people who take care of the research funding from the Government, the job quality of researchers in Malaysia and also country’s “scientific” projects.

I can’t find any information of Fadilah Yusof, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth chief. All I know is that he is a Member of Parliamentary for Petra Jaya (suburb of Kuching, Sarawak). He is also president of the Sarawak Bumiputera Amateur Golf Association. Can anyone please provide some details about him, such as his academic background?

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