This was revealed by Sarawak premier Abang Johari Tun Openg following an event in Kuching last night.

He said with this endorsement from Putrajaya, Sarawak can proceed with its plans to develop the nation’s first space industry, Borneo Post reported.

Abang Johari said the decision to make Sarawak the satellite launching location was reached at a meeting on the physical development of Malaysia chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, which he attended in Putrajaya last week.

“The meeting agreed that because of our location, which is an advantage, Sarawak is to be the place to launch satellites in Malaysia.

“The federal government has identified Sarawak and will gazette it as such. Meaning, Sarawak will launch satellites,” he was quoted as saying.

He noted that the space industry sometimes called the satellite industry, requires support services and called for Sarawakians to enhance their knowledge and get a basic understanding of this specialised field.

On that note, Abang Johari called for the Sarawak Skills Group via its i-CATS University College to set up a space study centre or faculty.

He said the centre will focus on subjects such as astronomy, physics, chemistry and algorithm, which are science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

“Therefore, we have to prepare our young Sarawakians to love STEM subjects, including mathematics, to launch satellites. This is our way forward since we have been identified as the nation’s satellite launch site,” Abang Johari said, according to the Sarawak-based daily.

On a related note, he said Sarawak has also set up a semiconductor academy to train Sarawakians in chip design to support the electronics and aerospace industries.