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.