Angkasawan wants more women involved

SEREMBAN, 11/06/2008: Angkasawan Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha hopes more women will be given the opportunity to join the National Space Programme as many have shown keen interest in it.

He said there had been overwhelming interest in the field among women in Asian countries of late, and even South Korea had chosen a woman to complete a mission at the International Space Station (ISS).

"It is important to give them the opportunity to take part in the programme. I am sure they are capable.

"The field should not be confined to men as women are equally competent to complete a mission at the ISS," he said after delivering a motivational talk at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Dato' Haji Mohd Redza here yesterday, which was attended by 500 students.

Muszaphar said based on his observation from visiting schools and universities nationwide, many students were keen in Science and Mathematics and wanted to be an astronaut.

"Students should aim high and study hard to gain entry into the National Space Programme.

"They should also take part in aerospace activities," he said.

Muszaphar expressed disappointment with certain quarters for painting a negative picture of the space programme saying that it was a waste of money and a "vacation" in space.

The mission to space, he said was to conduct important scientific research in medicine, specifically in cancer research.

"I would like to stress that the mission to space was not a vacation, instead there was extensive research being carried out at the ISS, and the experiences gained there should be shared with all Malaysians."