"Space is so important. Don't you think we should know what is happening up there? Everyone else is putting up their satellites," Jamaluddin Jarjis, minister of science, technology and innovation, told reporters.

"We are moving to become an advanced economy and communications is important to meet our economic needs. Now we are relying on other people's satellites. For security needs for instance, can we completely rely on other people's satellites?"

Jamaluddin said the first of the five satellites dubbed a "Razak Satellite", would be launched early next year. He declined to reveal the cost of launching all five satellites.

"I will be going to the US next week to inspect the launch site," he said.

Jamaluddin said the five satellites would be launched over a five-year period.

The third-generation satellites offer higher-resolution images. They provide specific and timely data for mapping departments in agricultural countries and geographical information for companies located near the equatorial belt.

"This (the satellites) is for the strategic needs of the country. For our economic and defence needs of our country, we must have our own capacity in space," Jamaluddin added.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last month said said Malaysia would push ahead to achieve Vision 2020, a goal set by his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad to achieve developed status by that year.

Towards this aim, Malaysia is developing a skilled workforce in fast-growing industries such as information technology and biotechnology.

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