Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor million

A committee set up by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry will start investigating allegations that Angkasawan Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha has received payment for giving talks.

Deputy Minister Fadillah Yusof said the probe would start tomorrow.

It was earlier reported that Dr Sheikh Muszaphar had become RM1.2mil richer from charging RM8,000 per hour to share his experience (as a space flight participant) on the International Space Station.

Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor has since denied the allegations.

Related post:
* Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha money talks
* Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor's blog

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From TheStar

Panel to investigate payments to Angkasawan for giving talks
By LESTER KONG

PETALING JAYA: A committee set up by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry will start investigating allegations that Angkasawan Datuk Dr Sheikh Musza-phar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha has received payment for giving talks.

Deputy Minister Fadillah Yusof said the probe would start tomorrow.

It was earlier reported that Dr Sheikh Muszaphar had become RM1.2mil richer from charging RM8,000 per hour to share his experience on the International Space Station.

He has since denied the allegations. Fadillah, when contacted, said the results of the probe would be submitted to the minister by the first week of next month.

He said the ministry had received complaints and reports from the public that alleged that Dr Sheikh Muszaphar had been charging for his talks.

On whether it was proper for the astronaut to charge RM8,000 per hour for talks, Fadillah said the committee had to look into the terms of his contract and the Public Service Department rules as he was still a civil servant.

“There are rules and regulations pertaining to the funds he has charged as well as token payments he received. They are two different things.”

Fadillah urged the public to substantiate their complaints with evidence.

These included receipts, invoices or any documents or correspondence related to any event attended by Dr Sheikh Muszaphar.

He said the committee would dismiss the complaints in the absence of proof.
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From Bernama

Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar's Family Sad Over "RM1.2 Million" Newspaper Report

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- The family of astronaut Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha is sad and disappointed over a newspaper report that he has amassed RM1.2 million from giving talks since last year.

His brother Sheikh Taufik Shukor Al Masrie said the family regretted that Dr Sheikh Muszaphar's untiring efforts to share his aerospace experience with the young generation was manipulated by certain people.

"We did not ask for any credit be given to him, just sad that he had been treated this way," he told Bernama in an exclusive interview here Monday.

Sheikh Taufik described the report as a "grave tragedy" as it was reported by a newspaper belonging to an opposition party that claimed to uphold Islam.

"They do not give a hoot to our aerospace venture, unlike other Muslim countries that were proud of his (Dr Sheikh Muszaphar) achievement. I do not understand why they want to destroy our future."

Sheikh Taufik said the claim that his brother received RM8,000 per hour for giving talks was not true at all.

He did not deny that many people had acted as middlemen or third parties to arrange for the astronaut to deliver talks or just to motivate people.

"Schools normally come directly to me or my brother and no money is involved. However, for non-governmental organisations and the private sector, there are many middlemen who manipulate the situation.

"This can give rise to things that may lead to such claims," he said when commenting when a report by an opposition newspaper that Dr Sheikh Muszaphar charged RM8,000 per hour for talks.

The report said the astronaut had amassed RM1.2 million from 150 corporations since his return from the International Space Station (ISS) in Oct last year.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar on Sunday denied that he had had asked for specific amounts to deliver talks on his aerospace experience.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili had said Dr Sheikh Muszaphar and Major Dr Faiz Khaleed were contracted to the ministry until Dec 31 and thus could not charge for giving talks.

His deputy Fadillah Yusof was reported as saying the ministry would investigate the report.

Sheikh Taufik said he had wanted to reply to the report but was advised against it as it would be a waste of time.

"Their job is to pit one person against another and to rundown the government," he added.

On Dr Sheikh Muszaphar's reaction, he said although the astronaut was disappointed, it was nothing compared to what he had to go through before becoming an astronaut.

"My brother was calm and said the truth will prevail."

He said Dr Sheikh Muszaphar received many invitations but were careful as he did not want to be seen as a celebrity but an educator.

Meanwhile, his father Datuk Sheikh Mustapha Sheikh Shukor denied those who attended his talks were forced to buy the book "My Journey To Space" that related his experience during training and when at the ISS.

"I hope the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry will defend my son now that he can be considered a son of the state," he added.

-- BERNAMA