Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : LANGKAWI
Tarikh/Date : 05/12/95
Tajuk/Title : THE OPENING OF THE LANGKAWI
INTERNATIONAL MARITIME AND
AEROSPACE EXHIBITION 1995
On behalf of all Malaysians, I wish everyone gathered
here today a warm welcome to these islands of many legends
and to LIMA '95, or the Langkawi International Maritime and
Aerospace Exhibition '95, in particular. The prospect of
business opportunities has brought many here to LIMA '95.
Those who attended LIMA '91 and LIMA '93 will notice the
tremendous progress and growth of the exhibition. You may
also be aware that a great deal of business resulted from
the previous shows. It will not be surprising if a lot of
business will follow this show. You will also note that
LIMA is now a recognised aerospace show and is included in
the calender for such events worldwide. The Malaysian
Government would like to thank everyone here for the support
in making LIMA a Premier Biennial Exhibition in this region.
The islands of Langkawi which have now become the permanent
venue for the exhibition will certainly be a better known
destination because of this exhibition.
2. Malaysia has now made a successful transition from a
commodity exporter to a producer and exporter of
manufactured goods. Today almost 80 percent of Malaysian
exports worth US65 billion dollars in 1995 is made up of
manufactured goods. So successful has the switch to
manufacturing been that Malaysia is now experiencing labour
shortage. In order to continue growing we have to go into
high technology and less labour intensive industries. The
aerospace industries have been identified as a suitable area
for Malaysia to venture into. It is hoped that with the
higher skills needed by workers in these industries, their
earnings would be enhanced while their numbers would remain
low. At the same time the high value added which results
from hi-tech industries will contribute towards the
continued economic growth of the country. The Government
will therefore give every support to the aerospace and
aviation sector as an important component of Malaysia's
industry.
3. In this context the Malaysian Industry-Government Group
for High Technology (MIGHT) has been tasked to formulate an
aerospace policy for the country. It will prepare the
blueprint on how the investments, transfer of technology,
research and development and joint ventures could best be
implemented under the Seventh Malaysia Plan (1996-2000). It
is also in the process of negotiating with several leading
aerospace companies worldwide to form strategic alliances in
the national aerospace and aviation industry. Although the
entry point into the aerospace industry is in the area of
aircraft maintenance, it is timely for Malaysia to embark on
the manufacture of parts, engine and avionic components and
training.
4. The worldwide annual turnover for the aerospace and
aviation industry is estimated at US$200 billion, with the
Asia Pacific Region expected to account for about 50 percent
of the global air transportation market by the year 2010.
As local companies begin to realise the opportunities to be
found in the aerospace industry, more are coming forward to
participate in it. Therefore, aircraft maintenance
companies are no longer satisfied with just servicing the
domestic and traditional clients, but are also aggressively
marketing their services abroad. Malaysian companies are
also venturing into other hi-tech areas such as systems
integration, simulator development and the manufacture of
light aircraft and structural components. Malaysia is
anxious to prove to the world that it can manufacture
aircraft components to the required standards of the
acknowledged aircraft builders. In this respect, Malaysians
are justifiably proud that the SME MD3-160, which was
introduced at LIMA 93, is now manufactured in Malaysia. Its
first clients are the Royal Malaysian Air Force, followed by
the Indonesian Ministry of Communication.
5. Malaysia believes that aircrafts manufacturers will
continually increase the use of composite material in
aircraft manufacture. To gain entry into the production of
hi-tech composite materials, Malaysia bought over the
Australian-designed Eagle XT-S. As a result, a core group
of 30 Malaysian technicians and engineers have gained
valuable exposure to advanced composite technology in
aircraft components manufacture, sub-assembly and final
assembly. The Eagle aircraft project has been instrumental
in the setting up of a composite industrial park around the
Batu Berendam Airport in Malacca. Already all available
land has been fully taken up and new acreage have to be
acquired. All are welcome to avail themselves of this
specialised industrial park.
6. The Government is keenly promoting a flying culture in
the country. It will support the formation of flying school
and flying clubs, including experimental aircraft
associations, to encourage the public to be interested in
learning to fly, and even own their very own light aircraft
one day. It is envisaged that as Malaysians become more
affluent, they will be ready for recreational, private,
commercial and corporate flying, thus creating a domestic
demand for general aviation aircrafts. The challenge then
is for both the Government and the private sector to explore
ways and means of making available low cost aircraft, low
cost operation and maintenance, landing strips and aircraft
parking facilities.
7. The growth in air travel in the Asia Pacific region has
resulted in the rapid expansion of our national airline, MAS
and the setting up of a number of feeder airlines and
aircraft charter companies. This growth is expected to
continue if not accelerate. More aircrafts of various kinds
have been acquired by Malaysia since LIMA `91 than at any
other period in the history of aviation in Malaysia. And of
course other countries in the South East Asia are not going
to be left behind. LIMA has really stimulated air travel
and private ownership of aircrafts in South East Asia.
Investments in satellites and telecommunication have also
increased because of LIMA. All these promise to grow in the
future.
8. The space age is upon us,affecting our everyday lives.
Malaysia has no choice but to join the ranks of countries
that wish to reap benefits from the exploitation of space
resources or be left behind. The scope is indeed very
broad, with opportunities in research and development,
derivative industries, commercial applications of technology
and technical and professional services in related fields.
9. Meanwhile, the government is encouraging and planning
the launching of satellites for both commercial and
scientific research purposes. Two commercial projects are
being undertaken by Binariang Sdn. Bhd. under the Malaysia
East Asia Satellite System, also known as MEASAT. MEASAT I
will be launched on December 20 this year from the Kourou
Space Centre in French Guyana, followed by MEASAT II in
July, 1996. These satellites will help to increase and
improve telephone communications, video conferencing, data
transmission, direct television and radio broadcasts.
10. The Government plans to launch the first
micro-satellite in July 1997, and the second, in the year
2000. Unlike MEASAT, which is meant purely for commercial
purposes, the micro-satellite programme will include a
scientific mission. It will facilitate research by
universities and extensive commercial and scientific
activities including low earth orbit environment studies,
atmospheric sciences, ozone monitoring and remote sensing
for resource management, land use and environmental
protection. The Government encourages more Malaysian
companies to explore opportunities in this new industry.
11. Global efforts in the advancement of aviation and
aerospace technologies should be focused towards
improving the quality of life for mankind. Space
exploration and numerous scientific researches that are
being undertaken should aim at creating and producing
products that would help to alleviate world poverty, hunger
and suffering. Advanced technologies should never be used
to promote a country's superiority over others and create
equipment that can be used for destruction or for a show of
force over weaker nations.
12. Just like the aerospace/aviation industry, the maritime
industry has great potential for growth and its importance
is duly recognised by the Malaysian Government. With the
Asia Pacific emerging as the centre of economic activity for
this decade and into the 21st century, demands for air and
sea transport are expected to register high growth. For
example, sea transport, particularly containers in the East
Asian Region, is expected to grow faster than the world
average of 6.7 percent and will account for 30 percent of
world trade.
13. The growth of the Malaysian economy has similarly
placed great pressures on the maritime industry. It is
therefore imperative that the maritime industry be developed
efficiently and effectively.
14. Given the considerable opportunities for further growth
of the maritime industry, steps will be taken to augment its
capacity and operations. Malaysia plans to have more of its
international trade carried in its own ships, especially in
the export of its commodities and manufactured products. In
line with this, the Government may consider giving more
incentives to traders and freight forwarders to export or
import using our own vessels and ports.
15. Larger cargo volumes and increasing competitiveness
have exerted pressure on Malaysian ports to improve
efficiency and provide more cost effective services. The
Government, on its part, has allocated a large portion of
its development budget for infrastructural development
including building a second port in Johor and completing the
West Port in Port Klang each served by good road and rail
access. The Government is also looking at ways to improve
operational efficiencies through the application of hi-tech
equipment and systems and manpower training. Suppliers of
hi-tech equipment and consultancy services will find ample
opportunities to work together with Malaysians in the
upgrading of our port facilities.
16. The Leisure Craft Industry is also being actively
promoted by the Government as more Malaysians take to a
"boating lifestyle". The growth of the leisure craft
industry is evident with the increasing number of Marinas
and seaside resorts being built in the country. At least 10
Marina projects are expected to be operational by 1997. It
is undeniable that, properly operated, Marinas not only
stimulate employment and income, but also provide additional
property, sales and other tax revenues to the Government.
In its effort to capture the bulk of the region's boating
development and to account for a significant proportion of
the industry's revenues by 1995, the Government has
eliminated import duties on luxury boats and relaxed boating
regulations as a means of increasing boat-related
activities.
17. Malaysia is also encouraging the development of lake
resorts. Such developments would result in higher demand
for leisure craft and boating facilities. Float planes and
amphibians aircrafts would be used for transportation of
visitors from principal airports to and between lakes.
18. In the midst of all these developments in the Maritime
industry, Malaysia is also mindful of the need to preserve
its marine environment while ensuring its safety standards.
Towards this end, steps are being taken to ratify several
international conventions which deal with the safety of
navigation and preservation of the Marine environment.
19. As the Straits of Malacca is one of the busiest
straits in the world, the threat of pollution from oil
spills and the illegal discharge of sludge is very real,
posing a great danger to the marine environment and to the
sustainability of our coastal marine resources including the
leisure industry. We are therefore actively pursuing the
idea of trans isthmus transport of goods and petroleum as
one of the triangle of growth projects involving Indonesia,
Malaysia and Thailand. This project, if it materialises,
will reduce the risks of collision and oil spills in the
Straits of Malacca.
20. I am glad that LIMA '95 now has an added feature, that
is, the convening of an international conference on
aerospace, which is organised by the Asian Strategy and
Leadership Institute (ASLI). This Conference marks an
important milestone in the development of LIMA. I hope that
the deliberations at the Conference will result in the
formulation of new strategies for the development of the
aerospace and aviation industry.
21. LIMA has once again brought together high ranking
Government officials from many countries and captains of the
aerospace and maritime industry which should result in some
Smart Partnerships between Malaysia and neighbouring
countries with multinational firms in the relevant
industries.
22. It now gives me great pleasure to declare open The
Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition,
'95.
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