It has been more than thirteen years since the day when Malaysia’s first astronaut was launched into space in 2007. The Malaysian spaceflight program, Angkasawan, is the real motivation behind Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)’s latest initiative to replicate the successful collaboration between Malaysia and Russia. It is high time to continue the scientific knowledge, skills, and technological exchange, which provide mutual benefits for both countries.

Professor Dr. Mohd Nazip Suratman, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) of UiTM led a team of researchers to start bilateral talks between Malaysia and Russia in setting up Malaysia-Russia Arctic Research Project. A meeting was held on 21 December 2020 at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Prof. Nazip expressed UiTM’s interest to the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Malaysia, His Excellency Mr. Naiyl M. Latypov in pursuing the collaborative scientific research project. Also in attendance were Ms. Svetlana Kovaleva, Director of the Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Kuala Lumpur, and Prof. Dr. Igor Iezhitsa from Faculty of Medicine, International Medical University (IMU) Malaysia, as the Head of Coordination Committee. The research team leaders from UiTM who were present at the meeting were Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohamad Huzaimy Jusoh (Faculty of Electrical Engineering), Dr. Heo Chong Chin (Faculty of Medicine), and Ts. Dr. Judith Gisip (Faculty of Applied Sciences).

The Arctic region is still extremely under studied in many fields such as natural and social sciences. This will be the first Malaysia-Russia scientific expedition to Arctic, which could propel UiTM and Malaysia towards global prominence and recognition. It also fulfills the Malaysian Government’s call to further enhance the cooperation between Malaysia and Russia in the fields of economy, culture, and science. Such program will be able to deepen the bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Proposed scientific research projects and discoveries are in the areas of advanced technologies, space weather, medicine, climate change, art and design, and applied sciences. In addition to  Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, and Faculty of Applied Sciences, two other faculties are joining the team. They are Faculty of Art and Design, which is led by Dr. Hema Zulaika Hashim, and Faculty of Sport Science and Recreation with Assoc. Prof. Dr. YM Raja Firhad Raja Azidin as the team leader. Other faculties may be added as the project progresses.

The idea of a bilateral research cooperation between Malaysia and Russia in the Arctic region was well received by H.E. and the embassy will provide full support in steering the project to the right direction. The meeting at the Russian embassy is key to the next step in paving the way for the three-year planned project, which is expected to commence in 2022.