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.

tunku : so what if he made the money???? nothing wrong in that. he is not a free man, he is working, he has a clinic to run etc.so time is money for him. he is not public property that anybody can use him anywhere anytime.malaysian should not be bothered with sheikh's income, they should be bothered with the ex gratia paid the the ex judges instead.