Malaysia’s Cape Canaveral? Sabah studies setting up spaceport

KOTA KINABALU – A memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a feasibility study on a proposed space industry development facility in Sabah was signed last night. 

If all goes well, Sabah will likely be the first state in Malaysia to have a launch site for rockets and other spacecraft meant for Earth’s orbit and beyond.  

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said if the study brings positive indications, the state will build the facility, making it the sixteenth in the world.

“The MoU came just in time to see if Sabah is suitable to have the Sabah International Space Launch Industry Centre at a location to be determined later,” he said. 

“(If it happens), it will place Malaysia as the ninth country to have such a facility and will boost Sabah to become a leading state with potential in the context of the transfer of knowledge and high-level aerospace technology in Malaysia. 

“Setting up a launching industry centre would also drive development; from 300 to 500 downstream companies in the aerospace industry such as manufacturing, electronics, and logistics.  

“It will also provide about 90 high-paying jobs, and about 5,000 job opportunities in total, bringing economic spillover and prosperity.”

Hajiji said this after he witnessed the MoU’s signing ceremony in conjunction with the Sabah Science Awards held here last night.  

The MoU was signed between three parties, namely the state’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry which was represented by its permanent secretary Datuk Zainudin Aman; Sovereign Sengalang Sdn Bhd represented by group managing director cum deputy chair Mohd Ezra Effendi; and the Yuzhnoye State Design Office represented by Denys MyKhailiuk who is charge d’affaires ad interim at the Ukraine embassy. 

Hajiji said he thinks that Sabah’s location is very strategic for being at a “maximum straight linear velocity” which would indirectly reduce the cost of launching space vehicles without having the need to go through Indonesia’s airspace.  

“Additionally, it can boost the achievement of the state’s science, technology, innovation, and economy field and stimulate interest among the youth in the aerospace sector.  

“The construction of a commercial space vehicle launch facility, Cyclone, will be a new catalyst for the state’s tourism sector,” he said.  

Hajiji added that about 20% of the revenue of each space vehicle launch will be returned to Sabah, which is estimated to reach RM200 million a year. 

He said so far, the feasibility study is still at an early stage and will take about six to 12 months.  

“However, it is still subject to further approval from the Sabah cabinet and then from the federal cabinet,” he added. – The Vibes, June 24, 2023