KUCHING: Sarawak has been identified as a launch site for Malaysian satellites, says Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim informed him last week that Sarawak's geographical location made it an ideal launch site.
Abang Johari said he believes Putrajaya will gazette Sarawak as a satellite launch site.
He was speaking at the Sarawak Skills Development Centre's 30th anniversary gala dinner.
Abang Johari said he has instructed state-owned I-CATS University College to set up a Faculty of Aerospace so future generations can learn about satellite and aerospace technology.
"We have to prepare our young Sarawakians to love STEM subjects, including mathematics, to launch satellites.
"This is the way forward since we have been identified as a satellite launch site," he said.
He said chips were important satellite and aerospace technology and this was why the state Education, Innovation and Talent Development ministry set up a Semiconductor Academy to train Sarawakians in chip design.
He said it is not only chip for the analogue but compound chip that can store data for the aerospace technology.