Did Malaysia's first astronaut Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Sheikh Shukor spend some of his precious time on the International Space Station playing Batu Seremban?
IN SPACE, no one can hear you scream (out of boredom). So, sometimes, astronauts in space would entertain themselves with games - like playing football, baseball, gymnastics or even playing board games.
But was a Malaysian traditional game, like Batu Seremban, ever played in space?
Verdict:
FALSE
Back in 2006, when news broke about Malaysia sending its first astronaut into space, many Malaysians were excited. And in November 2006, during a Parliament sitting, the Members of Parliament were told that games like batu seremban (five stones) and gasing (malay top) will be played in zero gravity.
The then Agriculture Ministry parliamentary secretary Rohani Abdul Karim also told Parliament that the astronaut would also do batik painting as well as make teh tarik on the International Space Station (ISS).
However, later that same year, then Science, Technology and Innovation minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis debunked the reports, saying that the Malaysian astronaut, Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Sheikh Shukor, would be carrying out at least 10 laboratory tests for serious research designed by 10 universities, institutes of higher education and government science agencies.
"We are not sending up a space tourist. Whoever is chosen will be carrying out ground-breaking experiments with serious implications on our economy," he was quoted saying.
While no games were played in space during his trip in October 2007, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar managed to assist in several experiments on bacteria and those related to liver cancer, leukaemia cells and microbes while on the ISS.
He also debunked the myth that the famous Great Wall of China could be seen from space.
"The view of earth from space is just beautiful. We could see a lot of things but not the Great Wall and neither could I spot KLCC," he was quoted saying.
It's important to note that due to the ISS being in free fall orbiting the Earth, Sheikh Muszaphar would not have experienced any gravity while he was up there.
Games like Batu Seremban and activities like making teh tarik require gravity work else the the tea and the Batu Seremban would just float straight up and not come down.
At any rate, while it is no game trying to be an astronaut, perhaps the young ones should continue to reach for the moon.
References:
1. https://www.vedantu.com/blog/
3. https://www.thestar.com.my/
