KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is set to ratify two key international treaties governing astronaut rescue and liability for damage caused by space objects by the second quarter of 2027, says Datuk Chang Lih Kang.
The Science, Technology and Innovation Minister said the government is actively preparing to ratify the Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space, 1968 (ARRA 1968).
He said the other treaty to be ratified is the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects, 1972 (Liability Convention 1972).
“This step is being taken to ensure operational and domestic legal preparedness in dealing with disaster risks as well as liability claims involving space activities,” he told the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Oct 8).
The minister was responding to a question from Tan Kar Hing (PH-Gopeng) in the Dewan Rakyat on the status and progress of work towards ratifying the two treaties.
Chang said the lengthy ratification process was mainly due to Malaysia's dualist legal system, which generally required domestic laws to be established before the country could accede to international agreements.
“The Malaysian Space Board Act 2022 (Act 834) was enacted and gazetted on Jan 25, 2022, and only came fully into force on Jan 1, 2025.
“With the full enforcement of Act 834, Malaysia is now ready to join the space treaties under the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space,” he said.
On operational preparedness, Chang said Malaysia had already conducted a space accident response exercise in two phases with the first having been held from Nov 26 to 27 last year.
He said the second phase, involving a more complex scenario, was carried out on last Thursday.
“This exercise serves as the first field test to obtain a response or reaction if there is an incident involving the fall of a space object.
“A full-scale exercise is expected to be held early next year,” he added.
He also revealed that a space law exercise was held from Dec 5 to Dec 7, 2025, to test liability claims under Act 834, supported by the adoption of guidelines on nuclear power sources in outer space.
Chang said findings from the exercises would be incorporated into the Space Disaster Operations Regulation 4.0 and the updated 3.0 investigation procedures for suspected space objects.
He added that the Ministry was also planning to establish a national trust account for environmental recovery.
Chang said ratification of the two treaties was a key prerequisite for Malaysia to advance its space programme, including activities outlined under the National Space Policy 2030.
