Najib has put the cost of astronaut program at only RM95 million. But is he telling the truth?

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Najib has put the cost of astronaut program at only RM95 million. But is he telling the truth?

Press Statement
by Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew

(Petaling Jaya, Wednesday): Malaysia plans to put its first person into space by 2005 aboard a Russian spacecraft as part of a defense deal it struck with Moscow earlier this year. Defense Minister Najib Razak said two Malaysians would be picked by Russian experts to undergo training with that country's space program starting in 2004.

The better of the two trainees would eventually join two Russian cosmonauts on a Soyuz rocket that would rendezvous with the international space station.

Malaysian participation in the Russian program was part of a US$900 million deal for Malaysia to buy 18 Russian-made Sukhoi SU-30 MKM fighter jets, which was signed during a visit in May 2003 by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to Alexey Fedorov, president of Irkut Corporation, the manufacturers of SU series of aircraft, Russia and India will work together to produce the jet fighters for Malaysia.

The Sukhoi SU-30 MKM that has been offered to Malaysia is not yet in service anywhere in the world. It is a derivative of the SU-30 MKI which has been offered to India. It is supposed to have components from Israel, Europe, Russia and India. It is learnt that Malaysia wants the Israeli component to be replaced and other new components added. As a result, each will now cost US10 million more than the original price of about US40 million.

The cost of buying 18 Sukhoi SU-30 MKM jet fighters is now fixed at US900 million. This works out to US 50 million each. In other words, Malaysian taxpayers have to pay about US 180 million or RM 684 million in extra (1 US $=3.8 RM) for the 18 jet fighters.

It is therefore questionable for Najib to claim that the astronaut program only cost Malaysia RM95 million. He needs to give Malaysians a more convincing story.

The wisdom of buying the untested jet fighters is also questionable. This type of jet fighters will not be inducted into the Russian Air Force and as the number ordered by Malaysia is limited, Malaysia is expected to face problems of getting spare parts.

At the end of the day, is sending a "tumpanaut" to the space with the help of the Russian spaceship a priority for Malaysia?

(29/10/2003)

* Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew, DAP national publicity secretary