KUANTAN: The state government has agreed to a one-year feasibility study for the proposed Pahang International Spaceport project on land owned by the Pahang State Development Corporation (PKNP) in Nenasi, Pekan.
State Investment, Industries, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman Datuk Mohamad Nizar Najib said if approved, Pahang will become the first location in Southeast Asia to host a rocket launching port.
“This is a one-in-a-million proposal. Pahang Invest typically receives proposals for factories or oil palm plantations, but rarely for space ports. If successful, the project could materialise within three to five years.
“On April 15, PKNP signed a letter of intent with China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) and Lestari Angkasa Sdn Bhd to establish a strategic collaboration in the space technology sector.
“Next month, PKNP and Lestari Angkasa will visit Wenchang Space City in Hainan, China, to hold further discussions on the Pahang International Spaceport project,” he said during the Pahang state assembly session today.
Earlier, Chan Chun Kuang (PKR–Semambu) had inquired about the status of the proposed space launch facilities in Pahang and Sabah.
In response to a supplementary question from Thomas Su Keong Siong (DAP-Ketari) on potential competition from Sabah, Nizar said the project developers had conducted technical workshops in both Pahang and China.
“They have engaged with various agencies at the state and federal levels. In fact, they are scheduled to present the project to the National Physical Planning Council today. The state government fully supports this initiative,” he said.
Meanwhile, state Agriculture, Agro-based Industry, Biotechnology and Education Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Soffi Abd Razak said 63 metric tonnes of coconuts had been bought from Sabah and Sarawak and imported from Indonesia earlier this year to meet consumer demand in Pahang.
“The coconuts were supplied by the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority in January and February as part of an intervention plan,” he said in response to a question from Su on efforts to address the coconut shortage in the state.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
