MALAYSIA has shown a keen interest in having access to Russian technologies, including in the space industry.

The Sputnik news agency said the matter was discussed in a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Summit in Vladivostok today.

It quoted Dr Mahathir as saying Putrajaya will help boost Russia’s presence in Southeast Asia.

Putin, meanwhile, said Malaysia is a “priority partner” of Russia in Asia.

“We are very positive that relations between our countries are developing in a positive way,” the Russian leader was quoted as saying.

Malaysia and Russia enjoy more than 50 years of cordial diplomatic relations.

It is not the first time that Malaysia has indicated an interest in Russian space technology.

Previously, under the Angkasawan programme, the government sent a Malaysian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) via a Soyuz TNMA-11 spacecraft.

The programme was announced by Dr Mahathir, during his first stint as prime minister, as a joint effort with Russia.

It was a project under a government-to-government offset agreement following the purchase of 18 Sukhoi Su-30 MKM fighter jets for Malaysia’s air force.

Under the deal, Russia would bear the cost of training two Malaysians for space travel, and sending one of them to ISS in October 2007. – Bernama, September 5, 2019.