KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia eyes to send its second batch of astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) by 2016 to carry out numerous research, officials said Wednesday.

Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah said his ministry is working on the programs, including sending two astronauts to space.

He was quoted by state news agency Bernama as saying that all related matters must be carefully looked into as a hefty allocation would be involved.

Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor became the first Malaysian in space when he was sent to the ISS by a Soyuz TMA-11 rocket on Oct 10, 2007 in cooperation with Russia. He carried out numerous experiments including on cancer cells and leukaemia.