TWO SURGEONS PICKED FOR MALAYSIA’S FIRST ASTRONAUT PROGRAMME: Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and dental surgeon Kapt Dr Faiz Khaleed, both bachelors, have been selected to undergo 12-month training in Russia. They were chosen from 11,000 applicants since the Malaysian National Space Agency (ANGKASA) started screening candidates in 2003 for Malaysia’s first astronaut programme. Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced their names on Sept 4 at the Bunga Raya complex at the KL International Airport. Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, 34, is attached to Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, while Kapt Dr Faiz, 26, is with the Malaysian Defence Forces.