UPDATED: Malaysian in space a real waste of money
AZMI SHAROM’S response to Katherine’s post:
Dear Ms. Koh,
Hi. Thanks for writing. Actually, what you said are my thoughts exactly. I was being sarcastic in the article. I am sorry I if you thought I was being earnest!
I’ve been writing for the Star for about a year and a half now and I guess I take it for granted that people read my stuff on a fairly regular basis and have come to know that i can be quite a sarcastic little creature.
I got some flak about this earlier article too because some one thought I was being hypocritical in criticising long haired people when i have long hair myself!
Anyway, all the best to you.
Azmi
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By KATHERINE KOH
Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor - Photo from The Star
Dear Azmi Sharom,
In response to your article “Wah! We are now a space power” in The Star on Thursday, 18 October 2007, I must ask, how much were you paid to write all this propaganda?
It must be pretty lucrative because you were extolling the benefits that we Malaysians would gain as a direct result of the Angkasawan project. There was no weigh-in of the pros and the cons of the programme, but just your views on how good this programme is. Perhaps your training as a lawyer has just taught you to argue your points one-sided?
Firstly, I agree that the spaceman programme is an inspiration to many children in Malaysia. We are allowing them hope and imagination, and surely there is nothing more important than that. By capturing the Malaysian public’s imaginations and dreams of becoming cosmonauts themselves, we would have pushed many a child to the realm of science, which is commendable.
Nonetheless, one must ask, is this a worthy enough goal? Is this the only goal? No, I forget. It is so that we could see how many times one has to pray in space and whether teh tarik tastes as good in space as it is back home. Also, according to you, it is to moralise teachers in broken-down computer labs; to quote you, “they can tell themselves that it all does not matter because we are a space power!” I have a better idea to moralise these teachers, why don’t we use the money spent on the Angkasawan project, (which was not really necessary in the first place) to repair the broken-down computer labs? I’m fairly sure that that would make the teachers happier, but then again, you are an Associate Professor at UM and I’m sure you know what makes teachers or lecturers glad.
We Malaysians have to just face the reality that our dear Angkasawan in space is merely a space tourist; granted he may be conducting “important experiments” (which we’ve yet to hear about). If Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar was chosen by the Russian government as an astronaut, independent of the money pumped in by the Malaysian government, I might have still felt a glimmer of pride. But, what right do we have to be proud if we are just riding pillion in a Russian vessel and conducting a Russian-initiated experiment (if there really was one?). We are just tumpang-ing their taxi, how can we possibly be proud of that?
There are a lot of things that we should have spent the money on. Instead, the government chose to spend it on an undisclosed sum to invest in the Angkasawan project. This just smells fishy to me, and the whole thing reeks of some dodgy business. There are so many worthy projects out there that deserve money - upgrading hospitals, universities, high schools, providing better welfare, etc. Surely that should take top priority before this project?
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KATHERINE KOH is a contributing writer for theCICAK.
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Urm….Katherine…hate to ask, but…
did you notice that Azmi’s article is dripping with sarcasm that even puts me to shame…?
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jokes on you Kat
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Er, yeah, I think you failed to notice the sarcasm.
Also, I think it’s okay to be a penumpang on someone’s taxi. We can’t always be the first people to get the brilliant new ideas and so on. Many scientific theories and achievements were built on predecessor achievements. It’s okay to tumpang the taxi as long as people do learn from their experience for the better.
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Hmmm. Yea. Sarcasm. Katherine. Sarcasm. Azmi is a good man.
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I can feel sacarsm from Azmi’s article as well.
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keep it up, katherine. we’ve many other places and people to vent your frustration at. but not azmi… the editors are having a good laugh too - “analysis” by azmi sharom
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Hahahaha.. great link to the article. Certainly made my day in a somewhat miserable week.
Bigger joke is that the author here missed it entirely. LOL
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Its hard to justify the need for a Malaysian to be in space at this point of time. I would be happier if they glorified a malaysian social activist for helping starving children in sudan. Or send one there.
But as always, the government always likes to shiok sendiri. paraphrasing our PM, “Kita semua di sini seronok mennungu pelancaran soyuz”.
Maybe this space stunt is meant for the kampung folks, to get them interested in science. So that parents can sell the dream to their children.
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I would think the bigger joke with the Angkasawan program is this….
Remember how they said that he would be conducting his own experiments?
As per this Bernama article…
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=290692
Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor had also conducted experiments for ESA on the effects of micro gravity on the back of the human body, motor perception, resilience before and after being in the ISS, and stability of sight and the body.
So he was sent to space to study the before and after effects of being in a zero gravity environment on the human body…?
Don’t they have simulators for that?
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I noticed that this Katherine Koh is a “contributing writer” for this site. To have missed completely Azmi Sharom’s wit and sarcasm reflects on Katherine’s lack of savvy. I wonder how she can qualify as a so called “writer” and it does somewhat take the shine off this site.
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Kudos to Azmi for writing a brilliant article so full of -sarcastic- euphemism. Hence, whoever who cant read between the lines wouldnt understand the scepticism behind it.
Malaysian politicians did all of these things to boost their own ego, not Malaysians’ ego. Think about Malaysia Book of Record. Do we really need that?
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it doesnt take a genius to see the humor in azmi’s article
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a long respond to dr azmi, filled with effort and wonderful research. Kudos katherine.
yes sacarsm here too.
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Kathy,
I think everybody who reads the article are smart enough to notice the sarcasm in it but still THANKS… A LOT!!! For pointing it OUT!!! GREAT JOB!!! kudos..
In my own opinion, I think Malaysia Book Of Record is needed to show the world and the Malaysian itself of what we are capable of doing. Of achieving something Extraordinary. That is one way to encourage MALAYSIAN to do something extraordinary that can actually raise Malaysia’s name in the world’s eye.
There is this Famous saying, “To Achieve Something Extraordinary, you have to do something Extraordinary”.
No offence, but your article has already making you a JOKE and now you have to ask an IDIOTIC question that make you look like a joker more than someone who can write well about politic.
At least, I have a good laugh.. Thanks Kathy =)
Cheers~
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GOOD DAY,
its really funny to see the character of the goverment in malaysia. They act like they are born 100 times richer than Europian countries. Malaysia goverment is a debtors. They have get loan from from US in billion of dollars, and they keep relaxing. By this the goverment have increased toll price, oil price, groceries price, , scrap and materials, public transport service price and more. The goverment in malaysia are stupid and useless. They can even qualified for the kindergarten. The goverment in malaysia are childish and typical.. They have sent Dr.Sheikh Muzapahar fro space programme for nothing. What he learn there. Is he going to apply in malaysia of what he learn in space. Why malaysian goverment never send malaysian people with different race. Why they never send a chinese or indian . The goverment used to act by teeling grandma stories e are living in multi racial countries with harmony. What a story if they never send multi racial people in the space programme. As we know chinese , indians, christians are much briliant . All the races are paying tax and have to suffer for the increase price rised by the goverment technique.
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GOOD DAY,
its really funny to see the character of the goverment in malaysia. They act like they are born 100 times richer than Europian countries. Malaysia goverment is a debtors. They have get loan from from US in billion of dollars, and they keep relaxing. By this the goverment have increased toll price, oil price, groceries price, , scrap and materials, public transport service price and more. The goverment in malaysia are stupid and useless. They can even qualified for the kindergarten. The goverment in malaysia are childish and typical.. They have sent Dr.Sheikh Muzapahar fro space programme for nothing. What he learn there. Is he going to apply in malaysia of what he learn in space. Why malaysian goverment never send malaysian people with different race. Why they never send a chinese or indian . The goverment used to act by teeling grandma stories e are living in multi racial countries with harmony. What a story if they never send multi racial people in the space programme. As we know chinese , indians, christians are much briliant . All the races are paying tax and have to suffer for the increase price rised by the goverment technique. Those races have rights and deserve to participate in any programmes held by goverment. Few years ago two indian have successful climb the mount everest, what they got. They got nothing but only bye from the goverment because they are indians and not muslim. The goverment feel embrassed and jealous because the indain can make it, and the malay cant as we all know melayu means layu , lazy bump. What the funny thing malaysia did is send some stupid malays by parachute with car and send malaysian worst car WIRA in North Pole. Even the US have condemend and laugh abt it.
About the education in malaysia, we will feel more worst. The goverment in Malaysia is giving more priviliges to the lazy malays in educatian. Even though they fail in stpm, they still can enroll in matriculatian or goverment university. The malays passing mark are different. But for definately these malays ant survive in foreign countries by their dirty and lazy ways.
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Hey, I thought it was rather obvious that he was being um, sarcastic when he wrote the article. Didn’t know you would take it so seriously
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Oooh ooh. I have another question. I like playing Devil’s Advocate, see.
Never mind la that the writer is too blur to sense sarcasm. Everybody seems to be pissed off-ed at this project, so here goes.
“There are a lot of things that we should have spent the money on. Instead, the government chose to spend it on an undisclosed sum to invest in the Angkasawan project.”
But you are wrong - they did disclose the sum. They said it was free. They said it many, many times - the trip was totally payed for by the Russians as a sweetener for the jets. Sort of like when you go to the kedai runcit and buy loads of groceries and the shopkeeper throws in a free stick of chewing gum.
Now, if you don’t believe that, then thats a totally different issue altogether and a totally different argument altogether. You can then argue about good governance and transperancy issues and all that boo-hah, but that would be irrelevant to the spaceman project, no?
And speaking of which - who gets to decide what project is more important than another? Aye, everybody seems to say that a spaceman project is a waste of money (assuming they did spend money, yah) and that the money should be used to eradicate poverty.
Wokies.
But what else should take precendence? Is giving to the poor more critical than giving to the disabled? How about building roads? Is that more important than giving handouts? Where in the list of priorities does fuel subsidy sit? How about sports programmes? Which one of you geniuses get to decide which takes top priority given a certain amount of budget?
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vincent is correct. We got the space trip free for our purchase of fighter jets from them. Think it was more than RM200 million…
there was a whole discussion in the promuda circle on yahoo earlier last year.
there was also a discussion about how it could cost so much when compared to the purchase done by India (I think) which was priced far below that. it was justified seeing as how MINDEF decided to change the radar system in the planes from Israeli-made to South African-made.
So perhaps if our jet fighters were to crash in the future, we could argue it was this change that caused it….
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I don’t see why people are coming down so hard on Katherine Koh for writing this post. Through her absolute immunity to even the most lumberingly obvious sarcasm, she has actually managed to make something pretty hilarious out of Azmi Sharom’s smarmy and and unfunny piece. Kudos to the Cicak’s editorial authorities for letting Katherine’s post pass in the name of humour, despite the fact that it addresses an insignificant article, the point of which it completely misses. Unless, of course, you didn’t actually allow this for the sake of humour, but were in fact as comprehensively clueless as Katherine; in which case, kudos for making a funny situation even funnier.
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enough la. so many people don’t write because they are afraid of making mistakes/sounding stupid. we need to encourage our young writers, not put them down.
katherine, take this as a learning opportunity and please keep writing! you only get better
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I think it’s funny how Katherine totally missed Azmi’s sarcasm in his article. Oh well.
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Yeah, I mean, he’s been writing for the Star for 1.5 years, man. Get with the program and read his stuff like everyone else is doing. And not just read it on the off chance. Read it on a fairly regular basis.
If you had, you’d know by now how he is potentially a little creature with sarcasm.
And a ponytail.
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why is catherine (not katherine koh), making racist comments?
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Dear CATHERINE- WHOEVER YOU ARE & WHEREVER YOU STAY….
I mjust caution to your goodself that your statements reflect that you are a hard-core racist Malaysians. As a Malaysian ( your citizenshipship but your heart ?????) you should feel proud that a Malaysian finally reached the outerspace. Irrespective of his skin & religion you should feel elated with his achievement. Instead you r complaining that other Malaysians with different ethnicity are the ones who deserve this special aerospace project sponsorship. Dr Sheikh & his sidekick Capt Dr Faiz are the chosen ones…filtered thoroughly via streneous tests and challenges to qualify as astronauts…Many of you even dared to say they are not qualified astronauts…to echo with the Americam media sentiments. LOOK HERE ….THEY HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE RUSSIAN SPACE AUTHORITIES AS ASTRONAUTS. WHO ARE YOU TO DETERMINE THEIR QUALIFICATIONS ??? I DOUBT IF THEY WERE SPONSORED BY THE YANKEES, THEY WOULD BE CERTIFIED AS ASTRONAUTS TOO… YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO DETERMINE THEIR ELIGIBILITTY OF THEIR STATUS.
You really make me & the rest ?????? feel irked with your so-called supremacist statement as CHINESE & INDIANS ARE MORE SUPERIOR THAN MALAYS….THEY ARE ALSO SUPERIOR MALAYS AROUND….IT’S ONLY THAT YOU DIDN’T HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW & MEET THEM IN PRIVATE. THERE ARE MALAYS ARE FIRST CLASS HONOURS DEGREE HOLDER….AND ALSO THE PROFESSIONALS. IT’S OUR PM’S ASPIRATION TO CREATE OUSTANDING MALAYS TO BE PERFECT ROLE MODELS FOR MALAY & MALAYSIAN TO EMULATE…..THESE 2 DOC ARE GOOD EXAMPLES ARE ‘TOWERING MALAYS’.
In fact i ‘m also one of the towering Malays in my own respective discipline.
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Dear CATHERINE- WHOEVER YOU ARE & WHEREVER YOU STAY….
I have to caution to your goodself that your statements reflect that you are a hard-core racist Malaysian. As a Malaysian ( your citizenshipship but your heart ?????) you should feel proud that a Malaysian finally reached the outerspace. Irrespective of his skin & religion you should feel elated with his achievement. Instead you r complaining that other Malaysians with different ethnicity are the ones who deserve this special aerospace project sponsorship. Dr Sheikh & his sidekick Capt Dr Faiz are the chosen ones…filtered thoroughly via streneous tests and challenges to qualify as astronauts…Many of you even dared to say they are not qualified astronauts…to echo with the Americam media sentiments. LOOK HERE ….THEY HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE RUSSIAN SPACE AUTHORITIES AS ASTRONAUTS. WHO ARE YOU TO DETERMINE THEIR QUALIFICATIONS ??? I DOUBT IF THEY WERE SPONSORED BY THE YANKEES, THEY WOULD BE CERTIFIED AS ASTRONAUTS TOO…SORRY YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO DETERMINE THEIR ELIGIBILITTY OF THEIR STATUS.
You really make me & the rest ?????? feel irked with your so-called supremacist statement as CHINESE & INDIANS ARE MORE SUPERIOR THAN MALAYS….THEY ARE ALSO SUPERIOR MALAYS AROUND….IT’S ONLY THAT YOU DIDN’T HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW & MEET THEM IN PRIVATE. THERE ARE MALAYS ARE FIRST CLASS HONOURS DEGREE HOLDER….AND ALSO THE PROFESSIONALS. IT’S OUR PM’S ASPIRATION TO CREATE OUSTANDING MALAYS TO BE PERFECT ROLE MODELS FOR MALAY & MALAYSIAN TO EMULATE…..THESE 2 DOC ARE GOOD EXAMPLES ARE ‘TOWERING MALAYS’.
In fact i ‘m also one of the towering Malays in my own respective discipline
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I just beg to differ with Katherine’s last statement as follows ;
There are a lot of things that we should have spent the money on. Instead, the government chose to spend it on an undisclosed sum to invest in the Angkasawan project. This just smells fishy to me, and the whole thing reeks of some dodgy business. There are so many worthy projects out there that deserve money - upgrading hospitals, universities, high schools, providing better welfare, etc. Surely that should take top priority before this project?
THE IDEA TO SEND A MALAYSIAN TO OUTERSPACE WAS MOOTED BY THE THEN PM DR MAHATHIR FEW YEARS AGO. IT WAS HIS ASPIRATION FOR THE COUNTRY AND HER PEOPLE TO EMBARK ON THE STRATEGIC PROJECT/VENTURE THAT WOULD ELEVATE OUR COUNTRY’S PRIDE AS A AMBITIOUS DEVELOPING SOUTH-EAST ASIA POWER. HE ‘S THE ONE WHO EMBODIED ‘MALAYSIA BOLEH CONCEPT’. I CONCUR WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH HIM THAT IN ORDER TO SUCCED WE HAVE TO TRY TO VENTURE INTO CALCULATED RISK TYPE OF PROJECT/VENTURE. JOINING EXPEDITION TO OUTERSPACE ENTAILS A LOT OF RISKS AKIN TO CLIMBING MOUNT EVEREST. REMEMBER CHALLENGER & VOYAGER SHUTTLE FIASCO MANY YEARS AGO…..EITHER THE ASTRONAUTS WOULD SURVIVE IN THE ORBIT OR PERISHED IN THE BURNING COFFINS FOR THEIR BELOVED FATHERLAND.
AGAIN THIS SPACE VENTURE DESERVE A GOLD MEDAL FOR ITS SUCCESS.
PREVIOUSLY, AN IRANIAN & ARAB ASTRONAUTS SUCCEED TO REACH THE OUTERSPACE BUT THEY DIDN’T GET BACKLASH/CONDEMNATION FROM THEIR VERY OWN MEDIA & PEOPLE. BUY YET….WE MALAYSIANS LOVE TO CONDEMN OUR SUCCESFUL EXPEDITION TO THE OUTERSPACE . WHY ? WHY ?WEI SHEN ME ???? IS IT BECAUSE A TOWERING MALAY MANAGED TO BE ONE ? WOULD YOU SING THE SAME TONES IF THE PERSON HAPPENED TO BE NON-MALAYS?????
WE HAVE ABUNDANT OF HOSPITALS (PRIVATE & PUBLIC),UNIVERSITIES,
HIGH SCHOOLS AND THE GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN PROVIDING WELFARE TO THE PUBLIC FOR MANY YEARS ????? THE COST OF SPONSORING AN ASTRONAUTS IS NO WHERE NEAR THE COST OF BUILDINGS THESE INFRASTRUCTURES….AS THE EXPEDITION IS THE RESULTS OF THE PACKAGE AGREED FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE RUSSIAN MADE MIGS.
SO WAHT’ THE FUSS ?????
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why is catherine (not katherine koh), making racist comments?
DEAR NAD,
this is not the first time that catherine has been making racists comments. she has being doing these comments in other topics/issues. I suggest you have a look at her ‘fiery remarks’ posted in this cicak com site. I ‘ve read her replies before that she was unfortunate to lead a miserable life to be she is today.
When she looks at the Bumis getting the privilleges, she developed this type of negative feeling towards the people for not really utilising the benefits.
Even if she has gone through the ordeal, she should not be angry or jealous towards you people. ARE U ALL PEOPLE TO BE BLAMED FOR HER ORDERAL AND MISERABLE LIFE.?????
IT IS HIGHLY UNETHICAL FOR HER TO MAKE RACIST COMMENTS THAT ARE IRRELEVANT TO THE CURRENT ISSUE OF THE OUTERSPACE SUCCESS BY A MALAYSIAN….
she is drawing flaks and savos ..that is for sure..best of luck to you…CATHERINE whoever you r ?????
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Dear editor in charge,
Since this site is dedicated for ‘Expression of Free Speech’ and the so-called cybernet democracy, why not you post other people’s comments on CATHERINE’S RACIST COMMENTS ????
Since that she/he dare enough to express her emotional irrelevant sentiment to this outerspace expedition isuue, she should be brave enough to view responses by other who may vehemently disagree with him/her.
PLEASE BE FAIR TO YOUR STAKEHOLDERS.NO HOLD BARRED.
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catherine : ur comments is so negative and racist. u cant blame all malays and represent malays that way. not all malays are the same. and not all chinese or indians are good too. think bfore you speak up.
for ur information, out of 12000 early candidates, only 4.1 percent of them are non-malays..and among the top we have chinese and indian as well.the angkasawan programme is not only consider ur brain but also ur fitness and education level you had. because if Ah tong jual ikan is physically fit to go..but he only have SPM certificate and cannot speak english. so how hes going to be a space representative?..
so, next programme, ask more chinese who are with the title Dr. or Ir.who able to pass all the challenge to join this programme ya..i’m sure they will do well.
for those angkasawan, they cannot to blame of. they just like all people who interested in joinning this programme. n have nothing to do with money agenda.
if this programme is a waste, the goverment should be blame of the agenda.
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HERE’S THE NEWS EXTRACT FROM NST ON THE MUCH DEBATED EXPEDITION TO THE OUTERSPACE.
The Malaysian government wanted toet a paradigm shift among younger generation to love mathematics and science.The Science & Technology ministry hopes to get Cabinet approval to create a Space Division to develop more space programmes for the country.
Malaysia’s first spaceman, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha, who is scheduled to return to earth on Sunday will be commissioned as a cosmonaut along with Kapt Dr Faiz Khaleed, said Science, Technology and Innovations Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis.
The commissioning ceremony will take place in Russia two weeks after Dr Sheikh Muszaphar’s return as he has to be quarantined for one week after touchdown on Earth, he said.
Jamaludin hopes that with the recognition, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar’s credibility will no longer be questioned as certain quarters regarded him as merely a space flight tourist.
Speaking to reporters at an Aidilfitri open house hosted by him here last night, he said that his ministry will also collaborate with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) on astronaut and space science training to avoid such issues from arising (status of Malaysians going to space).
Jamaludin said that he will be holding discussions with Nasa next month for permission to have Dr Faiz join the agency’s training programmes.
Nasa, which also assisted in the training for Dr Sheikh Muszaphar for the trip, is helping Malaysia obtain live television feeds of Dr Sheikh Muszaphar at the International Space Station (ISS).
Jamaludin said the national space programme has made a major impact in the country as it has generated a “space fever” among the people, especially the younger generation.
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Hi there,
shame on you CAT…..putting these racists comments.If you say that malays are lazy,slow etc.,they will have the right to say that whatever race you belong to are all racists.this won’t go down to well right?You are just being a hypocrite.
KAT….nice article,but I agree with the majority of the contributors here that Azmi Sharom is just being a teeny bit sarcastic…
Saladin…I agree with you that malaysian have now caught the “angkasa1″ fever..pretty soon we will see roti angkasa1,mee goreng angkasa1 and sate angkasa1.it’s good that we are inspired by the space launch,but can you tell me when will the next malaysian be going to space because of the “inspiration”?
lawrence….Come on,fix the basic needs 1st before setting off on these WE HAVE TO TRY TO VENTURE INTO CALCULATED RISK TYPE OF PROJECT/VENTURE
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Yeah, it has generated “space fever” among the people. We’re all literally sick of listening about it.
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CATHERINE’S COMMENTS REFLECT HIS/HER IMMATURITY IN LIFE PERSPECTIVE.
People who like to generalise things are basically green, raw, novice, immatured, uncooked, not manufactured, unrefined, inexperienced, unripe, etc…….if compared with people who great wisdom, exposure and experience who can discriminate things…
MAY BE Katherine whoever she is may be young and unexposed to the real life…. if this is true..maybe you guys n ginks can give him/her benefit of doubts.
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Dear Ku Klax Klan,
you can only bring a horse into a river..BUT YOU CAN NEVER FORCE IT TO DRINK LA…………MEANING THAT PEOPLE WILL ONLY CHANGE IF THEY REALLY WANTED TO CHANGE…..YOUR EFFORT WILL RESULT IN FUTILITY LA….i’VE READ HOW OTHER SURFERS SLAMMED HER/HIM HARD BEFORE..BUT SHE NEVER CHANGE LA…..
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Dear Lawrence of Arabia,
I have read your comment that there are many malays that are successful here. I agree with you that it is true but why do we need to hold on to bumiputra’s priviledge since they are a successful lot? itsn’t this not fair to other races? To make Malaysia a better place ( If u trully love Malaysia, you should support this), we got to make it more competitive. By this, ideas will be flourished and only those who can contribute will be making a good living. Lets open up the economy, education and other benefits equally. this will prevent complacency and low productivity among the citizens of the country. In this world of great competition, we should avoid protectionism as they only hinder progress. just imagine if your parents are rich and among the 3 siblings, your oldest brother gets all the wealth and materials he wanted. not only that, whatever money u make u have to share 40% with him. what would be your feeling? your brother would dfinitely become even lazier since he don’t have to work for money whereas you would want to disown your parents right? Please be truthful to yourself when answering the question. Anyway this subject is about the angkasawan and in my opinion, the benefits is for long term, if there is any, but we got many short term problems that need to be solved. If the project is truthfully packaged with the purchase of fighter craft and no additional costs is charged ( provided those aircraft is not excessively overcharged), i think it should be ok.
I hope we malaysians can work together to compete with other nations and not among ourselves. The pie is very small if u considered only the Malaysia’s portion but if u look globally, it will be much bigger one.
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Dear George Habash,
your name sounds similar to the famous Palestinian freedom fighter.?????
Whatever your name or your whereabout, I have to concur with your view that a person like Catherine cannot be changed by putting some senses of worrds. Only the social environment can change her disposition & attitude towards Malays in general, that is providing she is willing to adapt to the changes.
The way that she gave her comments on this issue of space exploration reflect her personality as somebody who is a racist and who cannot accept Malays to be successful in whatever projects/activities that could elevate our country’s status. Waht’s wrong for a highly qualified Malays to be succesful in the aeropspace exploration ??????? Whether a Malay, Chinese or Indian any successful expedition should be celebrated as Malaysian success.
p/s - to the editor. by right you should have filtered and expunged her comments because her comments would surely annoy the Malays in general.
I’m very sure that are lots of fiery comments on her racist statements that have been filtered and expunged from being public in this blog site.AGAIN IF YOU CONDONE HER RACIST STATEMENT, YOU SHOULD ALSO LET HER & OTHERS SEE THE CONSEQUENCES OF HER IRRESPONSIBLE STATEMENTS. THEN ONLY CATHERINE COULD LEARN TO THINK BEFORE SHE WRITE.
OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE SEEN SUPPORTING HER STATEMENTS.
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Dear George Habash,
your name sounds similar to the famous Palestinian freedom fighter.?????
Whatever your name or your whereabout, I have to concur with your view that a person like Catherine cannot be changed by putting some senses of worrds. Only the social environment can change her disposition & attitude towards Malays in general, that is providing she is willing to adapt to the changes.
The way that she gave her comments on this issue of space exploration reflect her personality as somebody who is a racist and who cannot accept Malays to be successful in whatever projects/activities that could elevate our country’s status. Waht’s wrong for a highly qualified Malays to be succesful in the aeropspace exploration ??????? Whether a Malay, Chinese or Indian any successful expedition should be celebrated as Malaysian success.
p/s - to the editor. by right you should have filtered and expunged her comments because her comments would surely annoy the Malays in general.
I’m very sure that are lots of fiery comments on her racist statements that have been filtered and expunged from being public in this blog site.AGAIN IF YOU CONDONE HER RACIST STATEMENT, YOU SHOULD ALSO LET HER & OTHERS SEE THE CONSEQUENCES OF HER IRRESPONSIBLE STATEMENTS. THEN ONLY CATHERINE COULD LEARN TO THINK BEFORE SHE WRITE.
OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE SEEN SUPPORTING HER STATEMENTS
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“enough la. so many people don’t write because they are afraid of making mistakes/sounding stupid. we need to encourage our young writers, not put them down.”
Actually no.
If life were a shed filled with tools, you’d expect to find some sharp tools…and some sharp challenged tools.
OK…that’s too abstract, let me try again.
There’s so much bad crap out there in the printed and electronic media…it makes sense to cull it at the source.
Far too many people write, there are many who shouldn’t be writing for public consumption.
Grammar, technique is one thing.
Fundamental duh-ness is another.
I’ve noticed that it’s not something one learns or unlearns.
There have to be a billion and one things one could do instead of writing that could bring Cadet Koh significant personal fulfillment, e.g., collecting interestingly shaped lint, drinking water out of a glass without spilling any on herself..the list is endless.
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You Malaysians are FUCKING RETARDED. Seriously.
Every fucking post, every fucking issue, and you must, you people simply MUST play the race card. What the fuck is wrong with you people?!?!
And you cicak editors are no better too. My comments have in the past been editted for the ‘foul language’. Oh, so foul language is not allowed, but racist comments are?!?
Free speech my bleaming ass…Perhaps you people would like to read the line that appears below the ’submit comment’ button.
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I agree with vincent on this one. Why must every topic suddenly be made into a racial thing?
It’s irritating. As for the use of language, that’s up to the editors in charge, even if they’ve once again stopped updating the comment of the week…..
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BRAVE VINCENT..GREAT SHOW & STUFF MAN…U HIT THE BULLEYES MAN….
U DESERVE SPECIAL MENTION FOR PUTTING THESE RACIAL SENTIMENTS TO ;
1. THE EDITOR - she’s the one to be fully accountable for writing an article that plays devil advocate roles.As a Malaysian she should feel elated that a Malaysian has reached the ousterspace and yet she could stii question Dr Mustapha as a qualified astronaut. She even got a heart to say that he is just ‘TUMPANG TAXI /TUMPANG KAKI’. What the **** is this ?????
2. Editor and moderator- I thought that comments that obviously appear to be on racial , culture and religion perpective are moderated and filttered. JUST LOOK AT THE LAST STATEMENT AFTER THE SUBMIT COMMENT BUTTON
All comments are moderated for impersonations and defamatory, racially, sexually and religiously offensive content.
what the **** is this statement ????????
MR APUT….U R REALLY A LETDOWN…..YOUR MOTTO THAT “I ALWAYS SIT ON THE FENCE’ INDICATE THAT U DON’T HAVE A PRINCIPLE TO CORRECT WAHT IS WRONG AND ADMONISH WHAT IS NOT ETHICAL….SHAME ON YOU.
3. THE RACIST BLOGGER LIKE CATHERINE.
Woi….think before u write la…….don’t be emotional and narrow minded la.
stop making a generalised statement about ethinicity…. open up your mind and learn to discriminate things/issue and people. GENERALISATION REFLECT IMMATURITY, RAW, GREEN, UNBOILED, UNEXPOSED……..
4. THE OTHER BLOGGERS WHO RESPONDED TO CATHERINE’S RACIAL REMARKS.
I’m putting the blame ON MY goodself and the rest for having to respond to catherine’s racial remarks. I ‘m sure if the mainstream Malays were to read her comments,this site will be inundated with massive fiery , ugly and vuglar comments to him/her and to the editor. you people will have a lot of jobs to get rid of the comments and possibly close the discussion. Just refer to Namewee’s video clip issue. Situation got into out of contril and the editorwas forced to close the discussion.
to post opinions and comments, bloggers should adhere to the internet ethics;
1. Never give defamatory, racially, sexually and religious offensive contents.
2. Respect people’s opinions.
3. Comment objectively and not emotionally
4. Use simple words….don’t use technical jargon.
5.Don;t try to put kerosene into flames.
6..Cool the fire with continuousflow of fountain water.
what else ?????guys/ginks please add the points.
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BRAVO VINCENT..GREAT SHOW & STUFF MAN…U HIT THE BULLEYES MAN….
U DESERVE SPECIAL MENTION FOR PUTTING THESE RACIAL SENTIMENTS TO ;
1. THE EDITOR - she’s the one to be fully accountable for writing an article that plays devil advocate roles.As a Malaysian she should feel elated that a Malaysian has reached the ousterspace and yet she could stii question Dr Mustapha as a qualified astronaut. She even got a heart to say that he is just ‘TUMPANG TAXI /TUMPANG KAKI’. What the **** is this ?????
2. Editor and moderator- I thought that comments that obviously appear to be on racial , culture and religion perpective are moderated and filttered. JUST LOOK AT THE LAST STATEMENT AFTER THE SUBMIT COMMENT BUTTON
All comments are moderated for impersonations and defamatory, racially, sexually and religiously offensive content.
what the **** is this statement ????????
MR APUT….U R REALLY A LETDOWN…..YOUR MOTTO THAT “I ALWAYS SIT ON THE FENCE’ INDICATE THAT U DON’T HAVE A PRINCIPLE TO CORRECT WAHT IS WRONG AND ADMONISH WHAT IS NOT ETHICAL….SHAME ON YOU.
3. THE RACIST BLOGGER LIKE CATHERINE.
Woi….think before u write la…….don’t be emotional and narrow minded la.
stop making a generalised statement about ethinicity…. open up your mind and learn to discriminate things/issue and people. GENERALISATION REFLECT IMMATURITY, RAW, GREEN, UNBOILED, UNEXPOSED……..
4. THE OTHER BLOGGERS WHO RESPONDED TO CATHERINE’S RACIAL REMARKS.
I’m putting the blame ON MY goodself and the rest for having to respond to catherine’s racial remarks. I ‘m sure if the mainstream Malays were to read her comments,this site will be inundated with massive fiery , ugly and vuglar comments to him/her and to the editor. you people will have a lot of jobs to get rid of the comments and possibly close the discussion. Just refer to Namewee’s video clip issue. Situation got into out of contril and the editorwas forced to close the discussion.
to post opinions and comments, bloggers should adhere to the internet ethics;
1. Never give defamatory, racially, sexually and religious offensive contents.
2. Respect people’s opinions.
3. Comment objectively and not emotionally
4. Use simple words….don’t use technical jargon.
5.Don;t try to put kerosene into flames.
6..Cool the fire with continuousflow of fountain water.
what else ?????guys/ginks please add the points.
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well done & comppliments to Vincent and my buddy Lawrence of Arabia for having to knock some senses to the editor, moderator, negative & postive commentators. To support your painstaking effors to educate the bloggers & surfers through ‘bloggers etiquette’, let me help by giving you all :
Blogger’s Code of Conduct
The Blogger’s Code of Conduct is a proposal by Tim O’Reilly for bloggers to enforce civility on their bloggers by being civil themselves and moderating comments on their blog. The code was proposed due to threats made to blogger Kathy Sierra[1]. The idea of the code was first reported by BBC News, who quoted O’Reilly saying, “I do think we need some code of conduct around what is acceptable behaviour, I would hope that it doesn’t come through any kind of regulation it would come through self-regulation.”[2]
O’Reilly and others came up with a list of seven proposed ideas:
1.Take responsibility not just for your own words, but for the comments you allow on your blog.
2. Label your tolerance level for abusive comments.
3. Consider eliminating anonymous comments.
4. . gnore the trolls.
5. Take the conversation offline, and talk directly, or find an intermediary who can do so.
6. If you know someone who is behaving badly, tell them so.
7. Don’t say anything online that you wouldn’t say in person.
In later comments, O’Reilly gave a tacit endorsement of Jon Garfunkel’s Comment Management Proposal [3]: “Jon, your post at Comment Management Responsibility: A Proposal is very detailed and thought provoking, as well as way more comprehensive than anything I’d thought so far
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The Blogger’s Code of Conduct is a proposal by Tim O’Reilly for bloggers to enforce civility on their bloggers by being civil themselves and moderating comments on their blog. The code was proposed due to threats made to blogger Kathy Sierra[1]. The idea of the code was first reported by BBC News, who quoted O’Reilly saying, “I do think we need some code of conduct around what is acceptable behaviour, I would hope that it doesn’t come through any kind of regulation it would come through self-regulation.”[2]
O’Reilly and others came up with a list of seven proposed ideas:
Take responsibility not just for your own words, but for the comments you allow on your blog.
Label your tolerance level for abusive comments.
Consider eliminating anonymous comments.
Ignore the trolls.
Take the conversation offline, and talk directly, or find an intermediary who can do so.
If you know someone who is behaving badly, tell them so.
Don’t say anything online that you wouldn’t say in person.
In later comments, O’Reilly gave a tacit endorsement of Jon Garfunkel’s Comment Management Proposal [3]: “Jon, your post at Comment Management Responsibility: A Proposal is very detailed and thought provoking, as well as way more comprehensive than anything I’d thought so far
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suggestion……needed
get the hell off catherine’s racist statement from this site….expunge her irresponsible statement right away……
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hey..you editor & moderators……
be professional la…….don’t get involve in selective posting of certain remarks la…. be fair to others who give good & critical comments……
don’t be accused as ‘discriminatory editor/moderator’…. show leadership by examples…
hey APUT.. WHERE’S UR PRIDE ????? SHOULD YOU DEFEND, OFFEND OR STANDING ON THE FENCE ?????
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BRAVO VINCENT..GREAT SHOW & STUFF MAN…U HIT THE BULLEYES MAN….
U DESERVE SPECIAL MENTION FOR PUTTING THESE RACIAL SENTIMENTS TO ;
1. THE EDITOR - she’s the one to be fully accountable for writing an article that plays devil advocate roles.As a Malaysian she should feel elated that a Malaysian has reached the ousterspace and yet she could stii question Dr Mustapha as a qualified astronaut. She even got a heart to say that he is just ‘TUMPANG TAXI /TUMPANG KAKI’. Shenme dongxi ma ???? apa ni ?
2. Editor and moderator- I thought that comments that obviously appear to be on racial , culture and religion perpective are moderated and filttered. JUST LOOK AT THE LAST STATEMENT AFTER THE SUBMIT COMMENT BUTTON
All comments are moderated for impersonations and defamatory, racially, sexually and religiously offensive content.
Apa ni ? mana bole ????
MR APUT….U R REALLY A LETDOWN…..YOUR MOTTO THAT “I ALWAYS SIT ON THE FENCE’ INDICATE THAT U DON’T HAVE A PRINCIPLE TO CORRECT WAHT IS WRONG AND ADMONISH WHAT IS NOT ETHICAL….SHAME ON YOU.
3. THE RACIST BLOGGER LIKE CATHERINE.
Woi….think before u write la…….don’t be emotional and narrow minded la.
stop making a generalised statement about ethinicity…. open up your mind and learn to discriminate things/issue and people. GENERALISATION REFLECT IMMATURITY, RAW, GREEN, UNBOILED, UNEXPOSED……..
4. THE OTHER BLOGGERS WHO RESPONDED TO CATHERINE’S RACIAL REMARKS.
I’m putting the blame ON MY goodself and the rest for having to respond to catherine’s racial remarks. I ‘m sure if the mainstream Malays were to read her comments,this site will be inundated with massive fiery , ugly and vuglar comments to him/her and to the editor. you people will have a lot of jobs to get rid of the comments and possibly close the discussion. Just refer to Namewee’s video clip issue. Situation got into out of contril and the editorwas forced to close the discussion.
to post opinions and comments, bloggers should adhere to the internet ethics;
1. Never give defamatory, racially, sexually and religious offensive contents.
2. Respect people’s opinions.
3. Comment objectively and not emotionally
4. Use simple words….don’t use technical jargon.
5.Don;t try to put kerosene into flames.
6..Cool the fire with continuousflow of fountain water.
what else ?????guys/ginks please add the points.
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I’m Malay and I don’t have a problem with Catherine’s comments.
I’m more offended by her bad writing, a poor reflection on Malaysian’s (of whatever race) command of the English language.
There’s tons of people with ill feeling towards Malays for various reasons. Morons like Nazri, Hishamuddin and Mufti Perak make analogous xenophobic comments on a regular basis. The term “Bangsa Asing” is liberally used to describe our Chinese, Indian and Dan Lain-lain tax paying Malaysian citizens.
The entire Angkasawan program perpetuates the Malay stereotype, delusions of grandeur (angan-angan Mat Jenin), unwilling to work hard to achieve the angan-angan (sorry, bud but 1 year at Star City doesn’t qualify as hard work - astro/cosmo/taikonauts are a different breed-driven by ambition to excel from a very early age), and a reliance on government handouts (i.e., tax payer’s money).
There are many ways to get onto the space station. Canadians have no rockets, but they made the robotic arm on the ISS (which proudly bears a Maple leaf). If Malaysia really wanted to contribute to space exploration, there’s a ton of ways. Not all of them require the development of jet propulsion systems.
Anyway, I’d rather see the venom and hate surface rather than have people skulking around harboring this shit quietly and having it explode.
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Dear SheikhingDownTheHersheyHighway ,
If you are really a Malay or Malaysian in which I trully suspect your real identity ( as internet blogging allow people to be anonymous), you r a source of embarassment to others who happen to read your comments.
FIRST, as a Malay & Malaysian you should not degrade their command of English in public. After all we are Malaysians with our typical mastery of English known as Manglish similar to Singaporean version of their Singlish.
What really matters to me and the rest are basically the contents and the salient points of their arguments which are simple and understandable. As for the grammartical mistakes committed due to time constraint or inability to control their anger while commenting should be tolerated by us. If you are damned focus on comments with perfect (Queen English), I strongly advise to to join the CICAK Editorial team as the main/side editor.
SECOND, you should NOT label the country’s politicians with derogatory remarks as this term is against the internet/Blogger’s code of conduct.Tq to Saladin the great for his painstaking effort in educating commentators to practice acceptable on-line etiquette. Your remarks on the politicians, religious leader and labeling the Non-malays as ‘Pendatang Asing’ are uncalled and overzealous.
THIRD, You should NOT degrade the status of our ‘Angkasawan’. The Two astronauts, Dr. Mustapha & Major Dr Faiz have been certified as ‘Cosmonauts’ by the Russian Space Authority. They have undegone a year of training to be qualified ones and not less than 6 months’ period requirement for the ‘Space tourist’.AS FAR AS I’M CONCERNED, YOU R NOT QUALIFIED TO DETERMINE THEIR STATUS. The sponsorship of this space exploration project is also part of RMAF purchase deal for the Russian made MIGs aircrafts.
THIRD, I vehemently disagree with your statement that the malays’ tendency to
have delusions of grandeur (angan-angan Mat Jenin) attitude. The ‘BOOK OF RECORD’ is a good testimony of Malays’ & Malaysians achievement and success based on their strong beliefs that they could attain glory. E.g , Sailed around the world (unassisted but later assisted), swam across the treacherous English Channel, explored the unforgiving terrain in Antartica, trying to reach the summit of Mt Everest, swam across the Strait of Malacca, demonstrating capabilty to produce Malaysian made car, cycling alone around the world….and there are more aspiring list to come…..
let me correct you that ‘the angan2 mat Jenin’ refer to the delusion of somethings that are not likely to materialise….Previously some quarters ridiculed at Dr Mahathir’s list of aspirations… and look anybody laughing at him or not…..he deserves a gold medal for his inspiring roles for Malaysian to perspire for GLORY . FOR THE FATHERLAND…
FOURTH, you seem to have innovative and practical ideas on the alternative method of embarking onto space station. Perhaps you are also a qualified graduate in Aerospace Engineering, having conducted ‘feasibility study in space exploration with alternative robotics technologies’. In this case, you are more than welcome to recommned any practical idea(s) to the Minister of Research, science and Technology,Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis.The country really needs an aerospace technologist like you to spearhead our country’s first aeronautical space project. Your talent will not go to waste…Your Innovative ideas won’t be regarded as mere delusions of grandeur (angan-angan Mat Jenin).
Since you would rather see the venom and hate surface rather than have people skulking around harboring this shit quietly and having it explode, THEN ACCEPT THIS COMMENT WITH OPEN HEART.
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GOOO DAY TO YOU KWC,
I really like your comments particulary on the possibility that we malaysians could hold strategic partnership/alliance as to compete with other nations rather than among ourselves. Yes, I agree that the pie is very small for Malaysian to exploit and the potential $ lies outside….this is what globalisation is all about. THE GLOBALISATION EFFECT THAT DR MAHATHIR HAS WARNED US ALL THESE YEARS.
Globalisation is hitting us hard. The impact is that the Malays/bumis will no longer be ale to hide behind the ’special right’ and protectionism policy.The time has come for Malays/ Malaysians to work hard, be patient, not to get rich quickly, doing things the legitimate ways will definitley produce ‘People’ who are resillient and successful.
The bumis need to start by discarding beliefs that they will be safe no matter what government will come into power. They have to think of the possibility that they may not be proctected , need to be independent and to be able to stand on their own feet.Those who are bedridden are finding it difficult because they have weak legs and prone to headaches. If the bumis want to be independent, they must stand on their own feet, not rely on others and go begging. If possible they should not accept help, but they were to accept help then you should reciprocate accordingly.
Malaysians can reciprocate through smart partnership in many fields/disciplines. Sorry to say there are certain fields that are currenty being monopolised by certain ethnics.For example, the education has been liberized with the mushroom set up of private unversities and colleges, good for the people, business and economy in general.However for other industries like retailing businesses , construction industry are still being dominated by the non-bumi. The bumis it hard to penetrate into the world of retailing business -supermarket, superstore, hypermarket with the exception of Myden Wholesale Store which is owned by the Indian Muslim shareholders’. Difficult to find retail business owned by Bumis . The emergence of the Giant retailers like Tesco, GIant and the rest will make it even harded for ‘the buni enterpreneur’ to venture into this competitive industry.The Construction industry and supply chain network are also being dominated by non-malays. Difficult more Bumis developers and contractors to compete in terms of getting supplies at reasonable prices.
The government would have the tough responsbility and task to ensure that already diminishing cake to be equally distributed to this country of 27 million people. I agree with you that we should not compete among ourselves. By competing with ourselves we are involved in RED OCEAN STRATEGY -killing ourselves . Instead we should eliminate competition and embark in the BLUE OCEAN strategy through having smart partnership/alliance.
Yes, we should liberize futher the economy, education and distribute benefits equally. Only then we could produce a stalwart and resilient society and thus stimulate our country’s economic growth further.
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Ugh our HERO is back on earth few days already. Unfortunately his sibling passed away yesterday. So his return to Tanahair has been very quiet, although NST reports an event will be held at a later date to mark his achievement. I wonder how much more of the rakyats money will go down the drain.
to Saladin the Great, The deal was part of the Sukhoi purchase plan not Mig. I think we Malaysians will be debating the pros and cons of this adventure till the next one comes along! I wonder first of all if we really did fork out any money? After all the jets are purchased at about the market price altough the spin off could have been better i suppose. Lets say if the goverment negotiated for medical expertise or technology transfer etc.
Why are we so or rather the goverment so eager to boost our image? Space travel is no big deal already in the eyes of the world. Especially when many ordinary citizens have forked out their own money to travel to space. While ego boosting projects or adventures maybe well good for just that dont we all think our image and our daily lives would be far better if all these funds were directed at making our roads better, providing better and cheaper education to all, providing medical facalities at all hospitals etc? We constantly try to boost our ego and many times succeed but we also fail to live up to the image we create. To quote one foreign friend ” How can we look at awe at the petronas towers when the transport system around it is so chaotic?”
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Apparently someone here has read my Vox beforehand…
Amazingly, the argument about racism suddenly becomes a question about my pride and my ethics.
What exactly am I supposed to be proud of? My race?
I’m 25% Malay, 25% Indonesian, 25% Chinese and 25% Indian. But I’m a Bumiputera, which means I get priority when chosen for public universities, the scholarship for my education, a discount when I want to buy a house….
This is what I’m supposed to be proud of? You’ve got to be kidding me….
To say that I haven’t taken advantage of these would be lying, but I’m not proud of being a Bumiputera, especially with vicious people around who claim that the other 40% of the country who aren’t Malay in general want to take away our privileges every single time an election comes by.
I have my principles, and that is to hear both sides of the argument while maintaining neutrality and not being a partisan on either side. Thus my motto:
“I try to remain on the fence, but it’s a long and surely painful fall on either side”
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Sorry, I forgot. Are we discussing the astronaut or not?
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i think trying to encourage the young generation of a country into new areas of study, regardless of what it may be, is a noble goal. personally, one of my childhood ambitions was to be an astronomer, and it iused to irk me to pieces when the people around me looked at me and said things like, “you’re in Malaysia. we malaysians can’t do that sort of thing.”
now. we’ve proven that a MALAYSIAN is qualified to become a Cosmonaut (which, if i’m not mistaken, is endorsed by the Russian Space Agency, and since they are considered as one of the space pioneers, i should like to believe they are of a better position to say whether a person is qualified or not, at least in a better position than most of us can claim). wouldn’t it also be possible to say that the fact that he made it into space and back again alive is an achievement in itself, when a number of others equally-qualified have perished before?
as with all government-sponsored activities , the argument of taxpayers’ money and time spent will always come into being. my question: if this space programme succeeds in pushing out (even a little bit) the mentality that Malaysians are not supposed to dream big, strive to achieve great things, or, God forbid, do something so extravagant as to step outside our world, wouldn’t all that money and time spent be worth it?
maybe it is rather useless (who knows iif our government, famed for its “hangat-hangat tahi ayam” policy, will actually do a follow-through after the buzz), maybe the rest of the world will regard it as a publicity stunt for Malaysia, and not see us as a developing nation who’s really trying (and admittedly, struggling a little) to advance in RnD and gain respect.
call me idealistic, but if we manage to soften the voice that says “i can’t do it, ’cause i’m in Malaysia”, and encourage the young generation to dream and think beyond their horizons, i say it’s worth it.
p/s: racial distrust is rampant in too many places. can we at least keep it clean here and focus on the topic instead of a racist comment someone made (who probably prefers to sit down and complain, rather than make his/herself a better person from his/her difficulties.
p/s/s: just a little trivia, most astronaut (or cosmonaut) training usually take about 18 months or so (after going through an painstaking process of selecting the fittest and smartest). i’d say the training our malaysian cosmonaut received should be adequate (although i admit i have no authority to base that on)
cheerio!
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NOSYCat The Ring ( Catherine )…. y the racist comments? Criticsized the government… I think , u had just woke up from yr years of dream. If not, u wont blame the government which had done lots of improvement for the country. Since u r a chinese, i supposed from yr name…u should be thankful living in malaysia… giving u the comfortable life and career. Chinese like u, who is racist, should be sent back 2 china, then u know how hard life is. I bet u will think thousands of time b4 going back there. i think, u feel proud with that racist comment, but, its just RUBBISH. i have lots of chinese friends. u know what they said about yr comments??? They said, U SHOULD BE SENT BACK TO CHINA WITH TONGKANG. what a narrow minded CATHERINE…. WHAT TYPE OF A WRITER IS SHE??? WE ARE MALAYSIANS!!!!!!!!!!!!, MALAYSIANS!!!!!!!!!!!!, MALAYSIANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rasa baguslah KONON!!! Tapi BURUK PERUT, BUSUK HATI!!!!!!!!!!
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enough la with all these racist comments….CATHERINE– YOU HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB & THESE PEOPLE ARE THROWING BONES AT YOU. YOU REALLY DESERVE THESE VENGEFUL COMMENTS.
Let’s get back on the issue.Our discussion is strictly on the issue of outerspace exploration. OK. Dr Muzaphar has been certified by the Russian Space Agency as Cosmonaut & also angkasawan in the eyes of Malaysians.
For those who are belittling the mission as being the one that was based on Russian technology, then better stop the insinuation. The Russians are the aviator/pioneer in Space exploration. I am qute impressed with the technological precission that enable their space shuttle to land exactly in the planned location if compared with the Americans who normally landed their shuttle onto the sea.
By year 2020, we are expecting to have our own space vehicle. It is the dawn and exciting era for Malaysia & its technology. MALAXIYA KEYI…..
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That, Cat The Ring, should be picked up as the cosmonaut. The 2 angkasawan tu kerajaan tersalah pilih. Tu yang buat CTR marah sangat sampai semua aspek org melayu dibangkitnya. KESIAN DIE!!!!!!! DIE NI SAKIT JIWA AGAKNYA. Mesti die tertekan krn tak dipilih, kan!!!! Kenapalah die ni dengki sangat yek??? Agaknya die ni kuat sangat makan KHINZIR KUT……….. KESIAN DIE………Jangan-jangan dah kena JE tak???
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haloo hani,
by this time, Catherine would have realised on her consequences of her racist remarks. IIt takes people’s painstaking effort in educating other people on the correct way to behave on-line. KUDOS to the Saladin the Great & Lawrence of Arabia for their great effort to educate unethical blogger like Katherine to adhere to the Blogger’s Code of Ethics.
Hani, of course you have the right to be annoyed over catherine’s racist remarks. But you should not go overboard by relating a person’s behaviour to an animal. We human are basically social intelligent animal and need to display that we are the choosen ‘creation’ by the almighty god.
It is our responsibilty to remind a person if his/her on-line behaviour deviate out of the internet code of ethics. TQ.
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I know right!?!
like, i wonder if anyone here remember, but the title our angkasawan got was the same as Lance Bass’s. That’s right, Lance Bass from N’sync. The gay one.
Don’t any of you find it highly amusing that our nation’s pride is as equivalent to that of a former member of N’sync?
What a waste of a hot man…’ Oh, look, the only hot AND intelligent guy in Malaysia.. lets send him into space so that the women of Malaysia won’t notice how dumb we are!!’
gawd…
I really think the govt needs to get a hobby.. and while they’re at it, they should spend more of they’re own money on their stupid escapades instead of wasting legitimate taxpayer’s cash for nothing useful.
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Sorry for menyibuk here but I just wanna give my respond to ’still a nobody hence commenting anonymously’.
“Don’t any of you find it highly amusing that our nation’s pride is as equivalent to that of a former member of N’sync?”
Nope. And I’m not agree with your statement because even though that gay Bass received cosmonaut certification and got certified by both NASA and the Russian Space Program, I found it highly amusing that he was kicked out of the program. In conclusion, he never even made to ISS. Plus, heh.. don’t you know that actually U.S (maybe not the citizen but the president) actually never liked us? That’s why NASA claimed that Dr. Sheikh is just a ’space tourist’. Unlike Bass, Dr. Sheikh has made to ISS and done some experiments.
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ok…good to see that the discussion is now back on the right track…..the issue of ousterspace exploration & aerospace technology…
The RUSSIANS WITHOUT DOUBT ARE THE LEADING AUTHORITIES ON THE SPACE VENTURES & FUTURE EXPLORATION…THEY GOT COLOURFUL HISTORY OF BEING THE PIONEER/AVIATOR OF THE SPACE EXPEDITION LONG BEFORE THE UNCLE SAM & THE REST BEGAN TO FOLLOW.
IN THE NEAR FUTURE, THE MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER PURCHASING MORE OF THE RUSSIAN MADE AIRCRAFT & PROCURE SATELITE TECHNOLOGY AND SET UP JOINT AEROSPACE ADMINISTRATION & EXPEDITION WITH THEM.
i’m more than obliged to provide you the historical information about the Russian Space, Historical & Achievement. HAPPY READING….I CAN’T HELP MYSELF AS I’M BEING INFECTED WITH THE ‘SPACE FEVER’….
Russian Space
In 1903 (the same year the Wright brothers made their first historic flight) Constantine Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky published his book, Space Exploration by means of Reaction Propulsion Craft, in which he expounded the scientific foundations of space rocketry. This event marked the first scientific theory of spaceflight, ever published. It also served to mark the beginning of more than 90 years of Soviet/Russian breakthroughs in space exploration.
In addition to their many “first” over the years, the Russians have the world’s only space station; more launch vehicles, including the worlds most powerful rocket engine (and there own space shuttle), than any other country; many other space engines/vehicles and spacecraft not available in any other space program; and, of course, the only “real (long-term) experience” living and working in space. The greatest testimony to their grand achievements in space is reflected in the fact that all the other spacefaring nations are involved in cooperative space projects with Russia.
A few of the many “first” of the Russian Space Industry:
First artificial satellite of Earth:
“Sputnik” (pronounced “Spoot-nik” not Sput-nik”) was launched on October 4, 1957 – the beginning of the Space Age.
First space traveler:
The first launching of a living being into space occured aboard Sputnik 2 with a dog named Laika. Launch: November 3, 1957.
First to the Moon:
“Luna-1″ (Mechta) – launch: January 2, 1959. Did not impact the Moon as scheduled, but became the orbiter of the Sun.
First photos of the farside of the Moon:
“Luna-3″ – launch: October 4, 1959; photo: October 7, 1959.
First toVenus:
“Venera-1″ – February 12, 1961.
First space ship:
“Vostok” – April 12, 1961.
First man in space:
Yuri Gagarin made his historic flight on April 12, 1961.
First simultaneous flight if two space ships:
A.G. Nikolaev, P.R. Popovich, “Vostok-3,” “Vostok-4″ – August, 1962.
First to Mars:
“Mars-1″ – November 1, 1962.
First woman in space:
V.V. Tereshkova, “Vostok-6″ – June 16-19, 1963.
First multi-man crew in space:
“Voskhod” crew: V.M. Komarov, K.P. Feoktistov, B.B. Egorov – October 12-13, 1964.
First space “walk” by a man:
A.A. Leonov, “Voskhod-2″ – March 18, 1965.
First landing on the Moon:
“Luna-9″ – launch: January 31, 1966; landing: February 3, 1966.
First artificial satellite of the Moon:
“Luna-10″ – March 31, 1966; in orbit since April 3, 1966.
First automatic docking of spacecraft:
“Kosmos-186″ and “Kosmos-188″ (Spaceship “Soyuz”) – October 30, 1967.
A few of the many “first” of the Russian Space Industry:
First return to Earth after circumlunar flight:
“Zond-5″ – launch: September 15, 1968; landing: September 22, 1968.
First crew transfer in space:
V.A. Shatalov, B.V. Volynov, A.S. Eliseev, E.V. Khrunov, “Soyuz-4,” “Soyuz-5″ – January 16, 1969.
First simultaneous flight if three space ships:
“Soyuz-6,” “Soyuz-7,” “Soyuz-8″ – October, 1969.
First automatic soil return from the Moon:
“Luna-16″ – launch: September 12, 1970; landing to the Moon: September 21, 1970; landing to Earth: September 24, 1970.
First car/rover on the Moon:
“Lunokhod-1″ (”Luna-17″ Probe) – launch: November 10, 1970; landing: November 17, 1970.
First successful landing on Venus:
“Venera-7″ – launch: October 17, 1970; landed on December 15, 1970.
First space station:
“Salyut” – April 19, 1971.
First docking of a spaceship to a space station:
“Soyuz-10″ with “Salyut” – April 24, 1971.
First landing on Mars:
“Mars-3″ – launch: March 28, 1971; lander, December 2, 1971.
First military manned space station:
“Salyut-3″ (Almaz) – 1974.First docking of Russian and US spacecraft:
Apollo-Soyuz Test Program – July 15-24, 1975.
First international crew:
A.A. Gubarev, V. Remek (Czechoslovakia), “Soyuz-28″ – March 2-10, 1978.
First space “walk” by a woman:
S. E. Savitskaya, “Salyut-7″ – July 27, 1984.
First unmanned flight and landing of a space shuttle:
“Buran” – November 15, 1988.
First international long-duration manned space station:
“Mir” – launch: February 19, 1986; continuously manned since September 8, 1989.
Longest space flight – more than one year:
V.V.Polyuakov – 437 days, 17 hours, 58 min, 31 sec (continuous flight); 678 days, 17 hours, 33 min, 18 sec (total flight time).
First docking of Russian and US spacecraft:
Apollo-Soyuz Test Program – July 15-24, 1975.
First international crew:
A.A. Gubarev, V. Remek (Czechoslovakia), “Soyuz-28″ – March 2-10, 1978.
First space “walk” by a woman:
S. E. Savitskaya, “Salyut-7″ – July 27, 1984.
First unmanned flight and landing of a space shuttle:
“Buran” – November 15, 1988.
First international long-duration manned space station:
“Mir” – launch: February 19, 1986; continuously manned since September 8, 1989.
Longest space flight – more than one year:
V.V.Polyuakov – 437 days, 17 hours, 58 min, 31 sec (continuous flight); 678 days, 17 hours, 33 min, 18 sec (total flight time).
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aisay man…..what’s wrong with you people..still questioning on Dr. Mustapha’s status as ‘cosmonaut’ and his roles on the recent successful expedition…
O.K just go through abstract information about him, the Angkasawan, Space Flight & Space Experiment .
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.[1][2] 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.
Angkasawan program
Main article: Angkasawan program
Sheikh Muszaphar and three other finalists were selected at the beginning of 2006 for the Malaysian Angkasawan spaceflight program. The program arose after Russia agreed to transport one Malaysian to the ISS as part of a multi-billion purchase of 18 Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets by Malaysia. After completing initial training at Star City in Russia, Sheikh Muszaphar and Faiz Khaleed were selected to undergo an 18-month training program in Russia, at the end of which Sheikh Muszaphar was chosen as the prime crew member, while Faiz Khaleed served as back-up.[11] Following the final medical tests and training examinations, on September 17, it was announced that Sheikh Muszaphar would be flying on Soyuz 11.
During a NASA news conference with the Expedition 16 crew on July 23, 2007, and news conferences following his selection, Sheikh Muszaphar said he hoped to be able to take various live cell cultures to study during his flight.
Flying as a guest of the Russian government, Sheikh Muszaphar’s role aboard Soyuz and the ISS is referred to as a spaceflight participant in English-language Russian Federal Space Agency and NASA documents and press briefings.
Speaking to Malaysian media outlets, Alexander Karchava, the Russian ambassador to Malaysia, stated that Sheikh Muszaphar is a “fully-fledged cosmonaut”. In an interview with the Malaysian Star newspaper, Robert Gibson, a retired NASA astronaut, shared his opinion that Sheikh Muszaphar is fully qualified as an astronaut, and as such, he should be called one. Gibson also said he regarded Sheikh Muszaphar as a peer.
Spaceflight
Soyuz TMA-11 carrying Whitson, Malenchenko, and Sheikh Muszaphar, successfully launched at 13:22 UTC, Wednesday, October 10, 2007.[20][21][22]
Space experiments
Sheikh Muszaphar performed experiments on board the International Space Station relating to the characteristics and growth of liver cancer and leukemia cells, the crystallisation of various proteins and microbes in space.[23]
The experiments relating to liver cancer, leukemia cells and microbes will benefit general science and medical research, while the experiments relating to the crystallisation of proteins, lipases in this case, will directly benefit local industries.
Lipase are a type of protein enzymes used in the manufacturing of diverse range of products from textiles to cosmetics, and the opportunity to grow these in space will mean a possibility for Malaysian scientists to take a crack at an industry worth some USD2.2bil (MYR7.7bil) worldwide by producing these locally.
If you are still adamant that he is still not a qualified astronaut, THEN I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU SEEK APPOINTMENT WITH THE PSYCHIATRIST FOR ‘PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT’…..
AND IF YOU ARE STILL QUESTIONING HIS STATUS….THEREFORE U R EXHIBITING THE SYMPTOM OF ‘PSYCHOSIS’…..
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Why Anis,
Is it such a bad thing that our Angkasawan is as qualified as Lance Bass?
You make it seem like Bass didn’t deserve his Cosmonaut certifications or that his qualifications aren’t as equivalent to that of our Angkasawan.
Pls don’t discriminating against Bass because he is gay…
There is really no need to make fun of his sexuality by calling him gay Bass.
And the reason why Bass didn’t get to go into space was because of financial constrains as his corporate sponsors backed out on financing his trip.
At least the financial source of Bass’s mission into space isn’t from the public taxpayer’s pocket.
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