Recently, I had the opportunity to witness the launch of the second Malaysian satellite, MEASAT 2 at the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, which was launched by Arianespace.
Malaysians are proud that we have in orbit a second satellite, as MEASAT 1 was launched in January this year, and Binaring Sdn. Bhd. must be commended for putting Malaysia on the global satellite map.
However, we must put our achievements in proper perspective as from some of the publicity over the launching of the MEASAT 2, there seems to be an impression as if Malaysia has arrived in space technology and has become one of the “space powers” of the world.
According to NASA, as of July 1996, there are 2,355 satellites in orbit. Indonesia has eight satellites in orbit. In fact, this year marks the 20th anniversary of Indonesia’s satellite system, as its first satellite, Palapa-A, built by Hughes Space and Communications Co. was launched in 1976.
There is going to be a new family of Indonesian satellites, starting withGaruda-1, to be constructed by Lockheed, which will be launched into orbit on a Proton rocket from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in the second half of 1988.
The question that comes to mind is why Malaysia had been so slow in satellite technology, launching our first two satellites when Indonesia had been ahead of us by a full 20 years.
This is not the only area where Indonesia is ahead of Malaysia in the application of satellite technology.
It has been reported that Indonesia has introduced new satellite-based Internet service that promises dramatic improvements in performance and response time for World Wide Web users by providing high-speed transmission of Internet traffic from the United States. This is provided by PamAmSat Corporation’s teleport in Sylmar, California to its connection at P.T.Primacom’s facility in Jakarta.
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment should be aware of the numerous complaints by Internet users of the Internet traffic congestion and slowness, and I would like to know whether the government has given serious consideration to the use of satellite-based Internet tranmissions, as many countries are offering these services.
Only last week, Japan Satellite Systems Inc. (JSAT) announced its plan to team up with electronics makters like Sony Corp. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., NEC Corp. and Fujitsu Ltd. to provide access to the Internet via communications satellite, as a larger quantity of data can be transmitted in a short time via a communications satellite than via telephone lines, and this allows easy transmission of moving pictures on the Internet.
In fact, for the past few months, INTELSAT - the International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation - had been holding demonstrations to show how its 24-satellite fleet is able to provide global access to the Internet within the INTELSAT system. This capability can provide many countries, particularly in the developing world, with flexible and cost-effective ‘on-ramps’ to the global information infrastructure.
In order to speed up traffic access on the information highway, the Ministry should seriously consider encouraging the introduction of satellite-based Internet transmissions in Malaysia.
In this connection, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment should give serious consideration to the establishment of a Spaceport in Sabah for the launching of satellites.
The only appropriate place for siting a Spaceport in Malaysia is in northern Sabah on the eastern coast of Kalimantan Utara, which would have access to about 1,500 kilometres into the Pacific Ocean, with no human habitation in order to remove all possible risks to human life.
This Malaysia Spaceport can be built by way of a turnkey project, as is being practised by some countries which are establish new Spaceports.
For instance, it was recently announced that the world’s first international commercial polar spaceport in Canada, sited in Minnesota, built by Akjuit Aerospace will be using the launch technologies and vehicles of Scientific and Technological Centre Complex (STC Complex) of Russia in a turnkey launch services package.
If Malaysia builds a Spaceport in Sabah to launch satellites not only for Asia but the world, we will not only be introducing a new technology into the country and the region, but also reducing dependence on the Western countries in a strategic and critical technology.
The Space Science Division of the Ministry is responsible for the building of a micro- satellite for science and research purposes, in co-operation with the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom. I understand the Space Science Division is finding difficulty in getting a slot to launch the satellite next year and may have to wait until 1999. What is the Ministry doing to ensure that there would not be a delay of two years in the launching of the satellite, as this would mean a great loss in learning time in an important and critical technology?
As Internet comes under this Ministry, I want to ask the Minister to launch an intensive campaign to raise the Internet take-up rate among the populace - so that Malaysians could take full advantage of the Information Technology revolution.
What are now the figures, on a state-by-state basis, of the number of Internet users in Malaysia, although there is now a second Internet Access Provider, Telekom Net.
Although there is now talk of providing computers to schools, all schools will face the problem of high telephone bills if they allow easy Internet access by the students. I suggest that the Minister work out a formula whereby all schools will have free Internet access with the telephone bills borne by telecommunications companies as a form of social and educational contribution to the country.
Finally, about the composition of the National Information Technology Council, in particular the position of the Prime Minister as the Chairman NITC. I understand the rationale for this, which is to provide the most powerful backing to the NITC. However, it does create an anomaly.
With the Prime Minister as NITC Chairman, it will inhibit free discussion and criticisms, particularly by government servants who may have dissenting views. Furthermore, the NITC is meant to be an advisory body on National Information Technology policy to the government. When the NITC report goes to the Cabinet, how could there be a free and independent discussion when such a report bears the imprint of the Prime Minister himself, and any criticism of the report might be construed as a criticism of the Prime Minister himself?
Maybe a better solution is for the Prime Minister to chair the Cabinet Committee on Information Technology, preserving the advisory capacity of the NITC which will allow free and unfettered debate on the desired National IT Policy and the National IT Action Plan for submission to the government.
(9/12/96)