What is the Malaysian Space Board Bill 2020?

The Malaysian Space Board Bill 2020 has been tabled for first reading by Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Khairy Jamaluddin at the Dewan Rakyat today.

What is it?

The Malaysian Space Board Bill 2020 aims at setting up a Space Board to regulate the space industry in Malaysia

The Space Board will advise the government on matters pertaining to the space industry as well as to issue guidelines and instructions related to the bill.

Among key contents of the bill:

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

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.

Section 41 (1) of the bill states that 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.

Section 42 (1) of the bill states that any individual who discovers 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.

The Malaysian Space Board Bill 2020 was tabled by Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Khairy Jamaluddin at the Dewan Rakyat today. – Facebook / Khairy Jamaluddin

Why it matters?

Malaysia is relatively new in the space industry, having its first satellite launched in 1997. Nevertheless, our space activities have grown significantly with the sendoff of our first astronaut to the International Space Station in 2007.

Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor is the first Malaysian astronaut launched to the International Space Station aboard Soyuz TMA-11 with the Expedition 16 crew on 10 October 2007. – Instagram / Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor

We are also involved in satellite activities by having several satellites in the orbit; MeaSAT 1 and MeaSAT 2 (1996), TiungSAT (2000), MeaSAT 3(2006) and RazakSat (2010).

MEASAT-3, a Boeing 601 HP spacecraft, was launched on 12 December 2006 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan – MESAT

Malaysia also encourage activities to encourage the public to be interested in learning about space through space education in programmes.

The government has also established The National Space Agency (ANGKASA) in 2020 which aims to upgrade, stimulate and foster the country's space programme through the application of space technologies.

Due to the development of Malaysia’s space programme into a wide range of activities, a set of regulations to ensure that space activities are equipped with proper legal procedures and rules is important.

MOSTI Deputy Minister Ahmad Amzad Hashim has said the absence of a law regarding the space industry had caused Malaysia to lag behind other countries, which had signed various space agreements.

The need for a space policy would allow for Malaysia to better coordinate its space activities and to harness their potential in improving the country’s economy and security as well as its global standing.