Sheikh Muszaphar bertunang tidak lama lagi?

KUALA LUMPUR 26 Nov. – Angkasawan negara, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha hari ini berharap dapat mengikat tali pertunangan dengan pilihan hatinya tidak lama lagi.

Meskipun enggan mengesahkan hubungannya dengan Dr. Halina Mohd. Yunos yang mencuri tumpuan media apabila mendampinginya Sabtu lalu, beliau memberitahu, hubungan mereka belum memasuki alam pertunangan.

Namun, apabila ditanya sama ada beliau akan mengikat tali pertunangan tidak lama lagi, Sheikh Muszaphar berkata:‘‘Tidak lama lagi, saya harap.’’

Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar penganjuran Pengembaraan Angkasa Lepas Antarabangsa Malaysia (MISA) di restoran miliknya, Rebung, di sini hari ini.

Ahad lalu, akhbar menyiarkan gambar dan identiti gadis pilihan Sheikh Muszaphar, 35, yang menemaninya ke majlis mesra Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) bersama media di sini.

Halina, 27, seorang doktor perubatan dalam bidang kecantikan (estetik) di PrimaNora Women’s Wellness Centre, mula berkenalan dengan Sheikh Muszaphar semasa menuntut di UKM, lima tahun lalu.

Kedua-duanya bagaimanapun enggan mengesahkan hubungan mereka sebagai kekasih meskipun Sheikh Muszaphar menyatakan mahu menamatkan zaman bujangnya pada tahun 2009.

Semalam, bapa kepada Sheikh Muszaphar, Datuk Sheikh Mustapha menjawab persoalan itu dengan mengesahkan hubungan mereka sebagai kekasih dan mengakui Halina bakal menantunya.

Apabila ditanya mengenai perkara itu, Sheikh Muszaphar berkata, beliau tidak mahu mengulas lanjut.

Ditanya berkali-kali mengenai butiran hubungannya dengan Halina, beliau tetap dengan pendirian mahu kehidupan peribadinya diasingkan dan enggan menjawab tapi hanya tersenyum.

Beliau turut memberitahu, media lebih gemar menyoalnya berhubung hubungan peribadinya berbanding eksperimen yang dilakukannya semasa berada di Stesen Angkasa Lepas Antarabangsa (ISS) bulan lalu.

Sheikh Muszaphar: I hope to be married by 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: Angkasawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor plans to end his bachelorhood by 2009.

While declaring that he would want to get married by then, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar did not say if he had any girlfriend or was seeing anyone special at the moment.

He merely smiled when the question was posed to him twice by reporters at the Parliament Lobby yesterday when he met MPs and attended the luncheon hosted by the Backbenchers Club.

Earlier, he said: “I am already 35, going on 36 and hope to be married by 2009.”

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar wants to end a two-year contract that he signed with the Government which requires him to remain single so that he could concentrate on the space programme.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis had said in his speech that Dr Sheikh Muszaphar wanted to end the contract earlier now that he had completed the space mission.

“We signed the contract with him last year and he has one more year to go,” he said.

Dr Jamaludin also said that the second Angkasawan Dr Faiz Khaleed, who was scheduled to go to space by 2011, would have to extend the contract requiring him to remain single.

Dr Faiz probably would have to extend it by another two years, said Dr Jamaludin.

He also revealed that Russia has offered to sell the Soyuz spacecraft, which carried Dr Sheikh Muszaphar to space, to Malaysia.

Dr Jamaludin said he was in the midst of gathering feedback from people on whether the spacecraft should be bought before presenting the proposal to the Cabinet.

He told the MPs to support the proposal and discuss the issue in the Dewan Rakyat.

“I would gather feedback first to see whether the people are for it and whether the price offered is good before making any proposal to the Cabinet,” he said.

Dr Jamaludin said the purpose of doing so would be to sustain the interest of the younger generation in space for a longer time by enabling children to have a chance to take a look at the spaceship.

Also present at the event were two scientists from the ministry, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abd Aziz and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid, as well as the Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib.

Opposition MPs Teresa Kok (DAP - Seputeh) and Ismail Noh (PAS - Pasir Mas) were also present.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar cut a cake, signed a plaque, answered questions raised by MPs, signed autographs and also posed for photos with the MPs and Parliament staff members.

Dr Jamaludin also said that a foundation would be set up for the space programme and some private sector firms had offered to support it.

The foundation would also take care of the welfare of the two Angkasawan who were regarded as national treasures, he said.

Bakal isteri angkasawan negara?

KUALA LUMPUR 23 Nov. - Adakah gadis (kiri) ini calon isteri angkasawan negara, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha?

Kehadiran gadis berbaju batik hijau muda mengiringi angkasawan negara itu ke majlis pelancaran Festival Antarabangsa Batik Malaysia di Esplanade KLCC malam ini, menarik perhatian para hadirin.

Malah, seorang petugas yang melihat kelibat gadis itu memakai pakaian sedondon dengan Sheikh Muszaphar yang mengenakan baju batik berwarna hijau tua, secara spontan berkata: ‘‘Tunang angkasawan negara.’’
Pada 5 November lalu, Sheikh Muszaphar, 35, mengumumkan hasrat berkahwin sebelum 2009.

Justeru, kehadiran beliau bersama gadis berkulit cerah dan berambut ikal melebihi paras bahu itu menimbulkan pelbagai persoalan.

Gadis itu sebenarnya ialah Dr. Halina Mohd. Yunos, 27, doktor perubatan dalam bidang kecantikan (estetik) di PrimaNora Women”s Wellness Centre.

Bagaimanapun, pada majlis tersebut, beliau dan Dr. Halina duduk berasingan di tempat yang disediakan oleh pihak penganjur.

Mereka juga kelihatan jarang berbual disebabkan Sheikh Muszaphar ‘agak sibuk’ melayan tetamu yang ingin bergambar dan mendengar secara langsung pengalaman beliau berada di Stesen Angkasa Antarabangsa (ISS).

Utusan Malaysia yang dimaklumkan lebih awal akan kehadiran ‘teman istimewa’ angkasawan negara itu cuba mendapatkan reaksi dan kepastian daripada beliau.

‘‘Saya suka kehidupan peribadi saya tidak menjadi perhatian umum. Saya lebih berharap orang ramai dan pihak media lebih menumpukan kepada kejayaan penyelidikan yang dibuat dan lebih memberi inspirasi kepada program angkasawan,’’ katanya.

Selepas majlis batik itu, kedua-dua pasangan itu, malam ini turut bersama-sama menghadiri majlis mesra Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) bersama media di sini.

Dr. Halina ketika ditemui berkata: ‘‘Dr. Muszaphar ialah seorang yang baik.’’

Katanya, mereka bersahabat baik ketika bersama-sama belajar di UKM.

‘‘Keluarga saya dan keluarga Dr. Muszaphar sudah mengenali antara satu sama lain.’’

Sementara itu, Dr. Muszaphar sekali lagi meminta pihak media jangan mensensasikan ‘‘soal peribadinya” itu.

Ditanya adakah Dr. Halina pilihan hatinya, beliau hanya tersenyum.

Angkasawan's space dream intact

KUALA LUMPUR: Angkasawan Major Dr Faiz Khaleed's dream of going into space is still intact.

This follows a four-hour surgery to reattach eight tendons on his left wrist after he was slashed in an armed robbery in front of his house in Taman Mawar, Cheras, on Wednesday.

A Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre team, headed by consultant orthopaedic and trauma surgeon Datuk Dr Zulkharnain Ismail, began performing the surgery at 2pm on Wednesday, 12 hours after the attack.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who visited Dr Faiz at the medical centre yesterday, said the doctors managed to save his hand.

"He can move his fingers. He lost a lot of blood and sustained a deep wound close to the bone.
"He will be warded for a week and undergo intensive physiotherapy."

He is expected to recover fully in three months and continue with his space programme, said Najib who met Dr Faiz for 10 minutes after arriving at the medical centre at 12.55pm.

Also present during the visit were Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Jamaludin Jarjis, Dr Faiz's mother Maznah Mohamed and father Khaleed Abdullah.

Dr Zulkharnain said Dr Faiz required more than 100 stitches for the 5cm wound.

"Fortunately, there were no bone fractures.

"The injury was sustained as Dr Faiz warded off his attacker," said Dr Zulkharnain.

Meanwhile, Dr Faiz said he panicked as everything happened very quickly and suddenly during the 2am robbery.

"I can vaguely remember the face of my attacker whom I believe is an Indonesian," he said.

Recounting the robbery, Dr Faiz said he had just alighted from a Perodua Kenari when two youths on a motorcycle approached them.

"One robber brandishing a parang confronted me, while the other placed a parang to the neck of my friend in the car.

"At that instant, I feared for my friend's life and attempted to distract the robbers' attention.

"Just then, one of the robbers came for me. I responded by kicking him, prompting the second robber to throw his parang at me," said Dr Faiz.

As Dr Faiz's friend screamed for help, he activated the remote control of the gate of his house.

"This made the robbers panic as they dashed off with my friend's gold necklace.

"I could not make out the registration number of the motorcycle," he said.

Dr Faiz said he had earlier gone for supper in the city with his friend whom he had not met for eight months.

Other than the wrist wound, Dr Faiz said he sustained slight bruises to his body, while his friend was not hurt.

"I hope to recover fully soon and am eager to resume my space training programme next year," said Dr Faiz.

Space hero Faiz hurt by robber

KUALA LUMPUR: Angkasawan Maj Dr Faiz Khaleed has, over the past few months, been labelled a hero by the Malaysian public. Yesterday, he showed just what sort of a hero he really is.

Dr Faiz was slashed on his left arm when he came to the aid of a friend who was being robbed in front of his house in Taman Mawar, Cheras, at 2am. He is now recuperating at the Gleneagles Medical Centre.On seeing his friend being mugged by two men armed with parang, one of whom had the weapon to the friend's neck, Dr Faiz tried to shift their attention to himself instead. The ploy worked.Although he managed to throw a few punches and kicks at the robbers, he was slashed.It is believed that the barking of a neighbour's dog and the opening of an automatic gate caused the assailants to panic and they fled clutching only a piece of costume jewellery belonging to one of Dr Faiz's friends.

His mother, Maznah Mohamed, said her son had just returned from a late supper with a few friends when the two robbers approached him."At first, my son, who had just returned from a holiday in Zurich last Monday, thought the two men were neighbours. "He was surprised when they came near him and took out a parang each."At that juncture, the men pushed Dr Faiz aside and one of them put his parang to the friend's throat. That was when Dr Faiz acted."

Present at the medical centre were Dr Faiz's father, Khaleed Abdullah, and Angkasawan programme director Col Dr Zulkeffli Mat Jusoh. Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Jamaludin Jarjis earlier visited Dr Faiz at the hospital. Jamaludin said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had been informed about the incident. It is learnt Dr Faiz has lodged a report.

Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor

Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor (born Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al Masrie bin Sheikh Mustapha on July 27, 1972) is a Malaysian orthopedic surgeon and is the first Malaysian to go into space. He was launched to the International Space Station aboard Soyuz TMA-11 with the Expedition 16 crew on October 10, 2007. Sheikh Muszaphar flew under an agreement with Russia through the Angkasawan program, and returned to Earth on October 21, 2007, aboard Soyuz TMA-10 with the Expedition 16 crew members, Fyodor Yurchikhin and Oleg Kotov, after nine days aboard the station.

Sheikh Muszaphar was born in Kuala Lumpur and attended high school at Maktab Rendah Sains MARA in Muar. He then earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India. He is yet to receive his Masters of Surgery in Orthopaedic Surgery at University Kebangsaan Malaysia. He has deferred his studies to join the 'Angkasawan' program. Sheikh Muszaphar is a trainee orthopedic surgeon, and a university medical officer in medicine at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. In 1998, Sheikh Muszaphar worked at Hospital Seremban, followed by a move to Kuala Lumpur General Hospital in 1999, and was on staff at Hospital Selayang from 2000 through 2001. Sheikh Muszaphar is also a part-time model and businessman. This has raised some controversy in Malaysia as government doctors are not allowed to own/run private businessesses yet he part owns a restaurant and a private clinic.

Biodata Faiz Khaleed

Faiz bin Khaleed (born September 15, 1980 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) is a Malaysian military dentist with the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces. In September 2006, he was selected as one of two final candidates to undergo astronaut training in Star City as part of the Angkasawan program. The other candidate was Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor.

In 2007, Sheikh Muszaphar was selected to fly to the International Space Station with Expedition 16 onboard the Soyuz TMA-11 in October 2007.

Faiz bin Khaleed still might go to space in 2008 or 2009 if Malaysia decides to proceed with a second space flight.

On 22 October 2007, Faiz bi Khaleed was promoted to Major.

Malaysia has decided to proceed with a second flight which will be in 2010.

Malaysian duo now called cosmonauts

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Angkasawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha and Major Dr Faiz Khaleed have been commissioned as cosmonauts by the Russian government.

The commissioning was done by Roskosmos (Russian National Space Agency) chairman Anatoly Perminov, at Star City near Moscow, Russia, at 4pm Russian time (8pm in Malaysia) on Thursday.

Science, Technology and Innovations Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Hanan Alang Endut and National Space Programme director Colonel Dr Zulkeffeli Mat Jusoh were present at the ceremony.

Dr Zulkeffeli said that the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) through its representative at the commissioning ceremony, also recognised the duo as astronauts.

On Oct 10, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar together Russian flight engineer Yuri Malenchenko and commander Peggy Wilson from the United States took off in a Soyuz TMA11 spacecraft to the International Space Station.

He returned to Earth on Oct 21. – Bernama

Faiz gets a major promotion

CAPTAIN Dr Faiz Khaleed has been promoted to the rank of major with immediate effect. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the decision was made after discussions with Chief of Defence Forces Gen Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal.

"We agreed that Dr Faiz deserves it. He has performed very well in the Angkasawan programme and has proven that he can contribute his experiences to the nation."

He said Dr Faiz would be an icon for the youth and would be speaking to students on the programme and space technology.

Dr Faiz said he was taken by surprise by the announcement.

The adventure has only just begun

KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia’s first angkasawan may have completed his journey to space but for the country’s space programme, it is only the beginning of more exciting things to come.

The successful conclusion of Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor’s journey to space has shown that nothing is impossible if we believe and work for it.

What was a dream is now a reality and a legacy for future generations to build on.

The angkasawan programme began in 2003. Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had expressed the hope that he would one day see a Malaysian in space.

At that time, the notion that a Malaysian would ever reach the depths of space was too incredible to imagine.
But several years later, Dr Muszaphar has done just that.

When it was announced that he would be the first Malaysian to travel to space, an excited Dr Muszaphar had said: “I feel so lucky, I feel as though I’m living the dream of all Malaysians.”

Indeed he was. Malaysians of all ages were glued to their television sets on Oct 10, waiting with bated breath for the Soyuz TMA-10 to lift off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 9.22pm.

The nine giant screens showing the live telecast at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre attracted about 1,800 viewers.

Many more offered their prayers for a safe journey for Dr Muszaphar from their living rooms.

Spontaneous cheers rang out and every Malaysian stood a little taller when the screen showed the handsome orthopaedic surgeon in the Soyuz TMA-10.

Despite attempts to discredit Dr Muszaphar as nothing more than a space tourist, he showed that he meant business and was not a mere visitor to the International Space Station.

He conducted research on three experiments under the life sciences category.

The Cells in Space experiment, on the effects of micro-gravity and space radiation on cancer cells, would shed light on cell behaviour and tissue repair.

Another experiment, called Microbes in Space, studied the effects of micro-gravity and space radiation on bacterial growth and drug resistance.

The Protein Crystallisation in Space compared the crystallisation of proteins in space with those crystallised on Earth to develop future industrial applications.

Dr Muszaphar was required to carry out each experiment based on a rigid timetable, which he did. He spent nine days on the ISS and returned to Earth on Oct 21.

After witnessing the launch, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had said the country’s space programme would continue with the help of the Russian Space Agency.

This was echoed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who announced on Oct 21 that the agency had offered to send another Malaysian to the ISS in 2010 or 2011.

“The next mission will be a step up from the first mission,” Najib had said, hinting at greater things for Major Dr Faiz Khaleed, the primary candidate for the next space flight.

When it was conceptualised, the angkasawan programme was meant to be a starting point to spur interest in science and technology.

The target of the programme are students, whom Abdullah had said would “ultimately realise all the dreams and aspirations we have for our nation".

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Jamaludin Jarjis echoed that in Moscow when he said: “The success of our first space mission will inspire Malaysian youth to learn more about space. It will open their minds and push them beyond limitations.”

It is time for the thousands of Malaysian children who have followed Dr Muszaphar’s progress to dream their own dreams and make them a reality.

You are heroes, Abdullah tells two angkasawan

By Deborah Loh

PUTRAJAYA: "You are heroes," were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's words of welcome to spacemen Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and Maj Dr Faiz Khaleed.

Dr Muszaphar and Dr Faiz visited Abdullah yesterday at the prime minister's office to "report" to him after arriving home in Malaysia a few days ago.

Abdullah was briefed on Dr Muszaphar's mission to the International Space Station (ISS) and on the scientific experiments he conducted there.

"I'm glad to hear the specimens were all safe as they had quite a rough landing on Earth in the Soyuz craft," Abdullah said after the meeting.

He said Dr Muszaphar had done the nation proud and had achieved a big step for Malaysia by excelling in other fields.

Abdullah reiterated that Malaysia was keen on continuing the space programme and would consider future offers to send another astronaut into space.

"Dr Faiz is just as capable and he will be involved in the next mission.

"There could also be room for Dr Muszaphar to be involved again."

The two spacemen presented Abdullah with "souvenirs" from space: the mini Quran which Dr Muszaphar took with him to the ISS, a frame containing other objects which he also brought, such as a mini Jalur Gemilang and a copy of the Rukunegara, and a black leather jacket with the Angkasawan logo and Abdullah's name stitched on it.

"You are a hero," Abdullah said while shaking Dr Muszaphar's hand.

"You are a hero, too," he said as he shook Dr Faiz's hand.

The astronauts are to meet Deputy Prime Minister Dat-uk Seri Najib Razak today at his office at the Defence Ministry.

Astronaut back for brother's funeral

By : Azira Shaharuddin and Ili Liyana Mokhtar

PETALING JAYA: Astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor will arrive home today, not to a grand homecoming but to attend his brother's funeral.

Younger brother, Sheikh Mustapha,32, hospitalised at University Malaya Medical Centre following a fall on Sunday, died at 6pm yesterday without regaining consciousness.

Dr Muszaphar, who was calm when informed of the death in Moscow, is expected to arrive at 2pm at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

The country’s first man in space will be taken straight to the Tuan Haji Said cemetery in Seremban for the burial, scheduled after Zohor prayers today.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who visited Dr Muszaphar’s family here last night to offer his condolences, said the astronaut’s return was brought forward to allow him to attend the funeral.
“On behalf of the government, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family.”

He met Dr Muszaphar’s father, Datuk Sheikh Mustapha Abdul Shukor, and expressed hope the family would be strong during these trying times.

Najib said Dr Muszaphar’s official homecoming celebrations would be held in a few days’ time.

Mustapha, 32, a project manager, fell unconscious after knocking into a pillar outside a restaurant last Sunday in Jalan Klang Lama.

He leaves a wife, Haryati Mohd Redza, 28, and two children, aged 3 and 2.

First Malaysian in space: Computer glitch sends Soyuz 340km off target

By : Anis Ibrahim reporting from Baikonur

ANGKASAWAN Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor returned to Earth safely yesterday.

After spending 11 days in space, he was the second man to come out of the Soyuz TMA-10 craft after Fyodor Yurchikhin. The third person to emerge from the capsule was Oleg Kotov.

The Soyuz landed 340km west of the designated site at 6.37pm.

Search and rescue plans were upgraded because of the ballistic entry of the Soyuz into the Earth's atmosphere.

Yurchikhin reported that the ballistic entry was triggered by onboard computers, resulting in a steeper descent and, thus, the off-course landing.
The spacecraft deviated from its intended landing spot after a problem during the descent. But it landed safely and the crew was unharmed, said Russian Mission Control spokesman Valery Lyndin.

Russian search and rescue teams quickly located the craft. One helicopter was already on the ground when the Soyuz landed. Twenty minutes after landing, the crew was extracted from the craft. The medical team, which examined the crew, reported that they were in good health.

Among those at the Mission Control Centre in Moscow keeping tabs on the Soyuz were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Science, Technology and Innovations Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis.

High-ranking officials from the Russian Space Agency, Roscosmos, including its director, Anatoli Perminov, were also present, together with Dr Muszaphar's parents, Datuk Sheikh Mustapha Sheikh Shukor and Datin Zuraidah Sheikh Ahmad.

Najib told a press conference that he and all Malaysians were happy that Dr Muszaphar had landed safely.

"This is a very momentous and historic occasion for Malaysia. It will go down in the annals of our history because this is a first for Malaysia in space and he has returned safely.

"The entire mission will be a landmark voyage for Malaysia."

He expressed his gratitude to Perminov, Roscosmos, the Russian and Kazakhstan governments, Nasa, the European Space Agency and other organisations which supported the angkasawan project.

"We have shown that this is a good example of an international collaborative mission. This space collaboration opens up many new opportunities in the future."

He said Malaysia would undertake an in-depth study of the success of the mission, not only in terms of how the local man fared physically but also the scientific experiments carried out in space.

"There are benefits we have reaped from the mission. The tangible benefits would be ascertained from our analysis of the scientific experiments conducted and results achieved and whether they would lead to commercialisation.

"The intangible benefit is, as a nation, Malaysians feel very proud that we can stand a few inches taller now that we have had a Malaysian travel in space."

Najib said he hoped the project would inspire present and future generations to strive for greater endeavours in all fields.

Russia offers another shot at space

MOSCOW: The Russian Space Agency, Roskosmos, is offering a place for another Malaysian angkasawan to the International Space Station in late 2010 or early 2011.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the government had until the end of 2009 to accept the offer.

"Roskosmos president Anatoli Perminov told me they were willing to train our second angkasawan for the next mission.

"This time, it will not be an offset arrangement but directly financed," he said at the Mission Control Centre here yesterday.

"Roskosmos has agreed to be a part of our civil space expedition, which we hope to seal under an agreement which will encompass all aspects, including benefits to science and technology and space exploration for the country.
"The details of the agreement will be based on our evaluation of the first mission and the scientists' assessment of the benefits of the experiments."

Najib said a cost-benefit analysis would be conducted.

"Since the next expedition would involve public funds, the government would have to convince the public of the need of the mission, although I can say now that we are very interested in continuing our space programme.

"The return of our astronaut marks our success in space. We want the country to benefit in the years to come from our angkasawan programme."

Najib, who is also defence minister, said he was grateful to ministries and agencies involved in the programme.