Malaysian Space Board Bill tabled at Parliament

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Space Board Bill 2020 which aims at setting up a Space Board to regulate the space industry in Malaysia has been tabled for first reading at Dewan Rakyat today.

The bill, which was tabled by Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Khairy Jamaluddin, among others, states that the functions of the Malaysian Space Board will be to advise the government on matters pertaining to the space industry, to ensure effective implementation of the Act, as well as to issue guidelines and instructions related to the Act.

The bill will also require any quarters who want to own or operate any facility for the integration or testing of any space object to apply for a licence.

However, Section 15 of the bill states that space shall be used for peaceful purposes and no person shall place, install, launch or operate any weapon of mass destruction in space.

Under Section 41 (1) of the bill, individuals who discover a celestial object must inform the authority of the discovery, failing which they could face a fine not exceeding RM5,000 for individual, or not exceeding RM10,000 for a corporation.

Under Section 42 (1) of the bill, any individuals who discover a celestial object must not tamper with, move damage or destroy the object unless to prevent danger, failing which they could face a fine not exceeding RM10,000 for individual, or not exceeding RM20,000 for a corporation.

Earlier, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz also tabled the Supply Bill 2021 for first reading.

-- BERNAMA