I refer to the Malaysiakini report Space programme cost RM40 mil .

I quote: 'Earlier in his answer to Mohd Nasir Ibrahim Fikir (BN-Kuala Nerus), Ongkili said it could not be denied that the space mission had brought ‘immense’ tangible and intangible benefits to the country. This included the increased awareness and interest among the young and the Malaysian public at large in the importance of science and technology, he said.

‘The mission had also advanced research in the field of 'micro-gravity' and led to at least one ‘technology spin off’ that will soon be commercialised, said Ongkili' - or so this Ongkili says.

Why spend RM40 mil just to generate 'awareness and interest among the young and the Malaysian public at large in the importance of science and technology' when there are other ways of doing just this such as (and by no means being an exhaustive list):

  • setting up a Science & Technology Centre where the public and tourists can see what Malaysia and other countries have done and contributed to the fields of science and technology;

  • encourage interest into the fields of science and technology in schools by organising science and technology competitions, dialogues, lectures etc;

  • setting up a science mentorship programme for schools and higher institutions of higher learning to nurture the interests of students in the fields of science and technology;

  • setting up a government info portal focussing on science and technology; and

  • setting up science and technology-focussed initiatives.

    • There are so many other ways and means of generating awareness and interest amongst Malaysians in the fields of science and technology in addition to the above.

    As for the last point listed above, Malaysians have seen the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), the biotech initiative and what other initiatives that have sprouted that I may not be aware of) floundering. The government starts these initiatives, spends huge amounts of (taxpayers’) money on them and then leaves them to 'die' after a while.

    As for the following statement made: 'The mission had also been a source of pride among Malaysians in having sent one of their own to space ..'

    I had only one reaction to that - disgust. I was disgusted when I heard they spent so much money to send a guy up there. That amount of money could have been used to better finance our education system that is going from bad to worse or to help the hardcore poor in their housing and living standards or to assist the thousands of unemployed graduates in the country.

    Enough said. I am just not proud of this recent feat. We are still a laughing stock in the eyes of our fellow Asian neighbours and the world at large.