JJ, the man who fuelled my passion for Science

I woke up yesterday to the tragic news of the Semenyih helicopter crash, involving Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis and somewhere deep within, my heart slowly sank in sorrow.

Initially, I didn’t want to accept it at face value and questioned the WhatsApp notification that I was reading at about 7pm, yesterday.

I was waiting for final verification through the messages in the digital-desk AWANI group and when the dreadful news was confirmed, I sort of transitioned into a void space.

Personally, I have not had the opportunity (and will never now, unfortunately) to meet Jamaluddin Jarjis but I must say he has impacted me, indeed – in both ways small or large – in sparking the interest to pursue Science.

I’ll always be remembering him as the science guy in Malaysia like how many would associate sciences to Bill Nye the science guy not for anything else but for simply being in command during the Angkasawan program in 2007.

I was fifteen when Malaysia’s first space mission initiated by former prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir was propelled under the helm of Jamaluddin who was then the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.

As I was fetching stories about him today, my mind kept on rewinding to my high school years when the space program garnered much hype.

When he was assigned to run the 'Angkasawan programme', tasked to send a Malaysian to the international Space Station on board Soyuz TMA-11, the race for the space venture began and about 11,000 Malaysians took part in the bid to become the ONE.

During the launch, the Minister said, "it is not merely a project to send a Malaysian into space. After 50 years of independence, we need a new shift and a new advantage to be more successful as a nation.

"We want to awe and inspire, and spur Malaysians to attain greater success by embracing science and technology".

I could recall how ecstatic I was as a kid in persistently checking for updates flipping the newspapers as to find out who will be shortlisted for that space voyage.

It was like I was contesting in the bid to conquer the space.

The saga in choosing the first Malaysian was something that kept me on my toes and further boosted my passion in acing my science subject. (Yes, I did ace if you were wondering)

The selection then came down to four finalists–the fantastic four as I would call them–engineer, S Vanajah, (also the only female), pilot, Mohammed Faiz Kamaludin, dental surgeon, Faiz Khaleed, and medical doctor (who would then be crowned the first Malaysian astronaut) Datuk Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor.

The anticipation that I had further grew in great magnitude.

I remember (though vaguely) how my teachers were excited when former MRSM Muar student, Sheikh Muszaphar was announced as the first Malaysian to take part in the space mission.

He became the pride and joy among the MRSM community and I too was proud to be part of the community.

That set the bar for us.

The first Malaysian astronaut and former MRSM student, himself has said that "I am not seeking fame or looking forward to be welcomed like a celebrity, but my quest is to inspire Malaysians, especially school children to like learning the subject of science and the space industry”.

Did he? (I was!)

Also, Jamaluddin was more specific as to the objective of the program when he said that it "was to create awareness among Malaysians the importance of science, technology and the space industry which could help developed the economy further”.

That for a period of time I believe opened new chapters, new vision and new hopes for Malaysia in the race for embracing one of the many Vision 2020 goals – to become a scientific and progressive society.

Fast-forwarding to the present time, with the clock ticking for Malaysia, it is time we reassess how far we have as a nation progressed scientifically.

It is time we further engage in progression and continue the sort of legacies that have been made possible by individuals like Jamaluddin.

Interstellar quote for thought: We’ve always defined ourselves by the ability to overcome the impossible. And we count these moments. These moments when we dare to aim higher, to break barriers, to reach for the stars, to make the unknown known. We count these moments as our proudest achievements. But we lost all that. Or perhaps we've just forgotten that we are still pioneers. And we've barely begun. And that our greatest accomplishments cannot be behind us, because our destiny lies above us.–Cooper