Malaysia's satellite launched

Malaysia's satellite launched

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad yesterday hailed the successful launch of the country's first communications satellite as a major step in the country's bid to attain developed status.

"The launch is another important stride in our plan to achieve industrialized status by 2020," Mahathir said after witnessing the launch over a live television broadcast here.

He said the satellite, owned by telecommunications firm Binariang, would give Malaysia more censorship control over material beamed into the country, although he conceded "outright control is very difficult."

The Malaysia East Asia Satellite-1 (MEASAT-1), together with the PANAMSAT-3R satellite owned by US firm PanAmSat, was deployed by an Ariane rocket which blasted off from Korou, French Guiana at 2310 GMT Friday.