KOTA TINGGI, Sept 5 — The proposal to explore an alternative venue for the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) in the future is aimed at keeping the event competitive amid growing competition among defence exhibitions in the region.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said continuous improvements to LIMA, particularly in terms of venue size and facilities, were necessary, especially as more neighbouring countries were also organising similar exhibitions.
“The competition to organise such exhibitions is very, very strong. If we do not improve the facilities and expand the area, we may see fewer participants.
“Indonesia and Vietnam do it, Thailand does it as well. That’s why we have to constantly make improvements,” he told reporters after presenting the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) Loan Advance payment (WPP) to 172 recipients here today.
He said this when asked to comment on former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s view that LIMA should remain in Langkawi, as the event had already established itself as an internationally recognised brand.
Tun Dr Mahathir was reported to have said that if the existing facilities in Langkawi could no longer accommodate the exhibition’s growing requirements, the government should explore other options to ensure international industry participation was not affected.
His remarks follow Mohamed Khaled’s earlier statement that the government would explore the possibility of holding LIMA in Melaka in the future.
Mohamed Khaled said the government should consider developments in the defence exhibition industry in neighbouring countries, which now offer more extensive facilities and exhibition space.
“If, for example, Langkawi is too small to accommodate the exhibition, then we have to look for (an alternative). Otherwise, we may see fewer participants than expected.
“That’s why I mentioned an area that can accommodate more people and make it easier for them to come,” he said.
Mohamed Khaled said Klebang in Melaka was among the locations that could be considered, but major investment would be needed to develop suitable convention and exhibition facilities.
He also cited the organisation of Defence Services Asia (DSA) at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) in the federal capital, saying the venue faced space constraints, particularly for displaying large defence assets and vehicles.
He said international defence exhibitions in countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were held in venues with large exhibition areas on a single level, in addition to open spaces for displaying various defence assets.
“In Kuala Lumpur, we had to put all the vehicles inside and there was not enough space to accommodate them.
“So, perhaps (we can consider other locations), but the parties involved need to invest in providing the necessary facilities. If we do not do this, many people may not participate in the exhibition we are organising,” he said.
Asked whether the LIMA name would be retained if the exhibition were moved to another location, Mohamed Khaled said it was still too early to decide. — Bernama
