Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. 
			MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	SUNGAI BESI, KUALA LUMPUR 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	27/10/98 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE OPENING CEREMONY OF 
			HELI ASIA 98 


        It   is   always  a  particular  pleasure  to  welcome
  visitors  to  our country.  It is an even greater  pleasure
  to   welcome  them  back.   HELI-ASIA  96,  which  we  were
  privileged  to  host  in Malaysia two  years  ago,  is  now
  established  as a truly prestigious event in  the  calender
  of  the  helicopter industry, comparable with the  ones  in
  Europe and America.
  
  2.     HELI-ASIA  is  a  dedicated  helicopter   exhibition
  covering  both  civil and military operations.   It  offers
  manufacturers and suppliers access to both markets  and  is
  the  biggest  such  promotional event in the  Asia  Pacific
  region.
  
  3.    HELI-ASIA  96  is  a hard act  to  follow  but  I  am
  confident   that  the  next  few  days  will  enhance   its
  reputation  further.  In fact, looking at  the  programmes,
  there are already a number of innovations improving on  the
  original  model.   For example, the workshops,  the  static
  display  and  opportunities for  flying  demonstrations  at
  Sungei Besi.
  
  4.    You  have  chosen to come here at  a  very  difficult
  time.   It is a moment of history when the support  of  our
  friends is most timely and will be remembered.  It  is  all
  the   more  heartening  to  learn  that  HELI-ASIA  98  has
  attracted over 100 exhibitors and that some 3,000  visitors
  are expected representing some 35 countries.
  
  5.    I  have  no  wish  to dwell on Asia's  economic  woes
  except to liken them to a period of turbulence familiar  to
  anyone  in  aviation, this one being particularly prolonged
  and  painful.  But, as you know, you can survive turbulence
  to  find  a way ahead to clearer skies.  Those of  you  who
  are here looking for commercial opportunities are right  to
  do  so  based on a belief in the long-term future  of  this
  region.  Your confidence will not be misplaced.
  
  6.    Specifically, we believe there is a growth market for
  helicopters and helicopter components.  We are  looking  at
  an  unusual, not to say unique craft, with a wide range  of
  specialised  uses, some special to this  kind  of  aircraft
  only.  This can be brought home to us in very forcible  and
  dramatic  ways.  You will all recall not too long ago,  the
  devastating  forest fires that raged through Florida.   And
  for   once   the   media  reports  were  not   exaggerated.
  Helicopters  being configured for fire fighting  operations
  were  to  the  forefront  in  the  massive  damage  control
  effort.   No  other  craft could get in  so  close  to  the
  disaster areas.
  
  7.     We   ourselves  in  Malaysia  have  good  cause   to
  appreciate this.  Last year we were victims of haze  caused
  by   forest  fires  in  a  neighbouring  country.    Again,
  helicopters  came  into play.  Happily, as  you  will  have
  already  experienced, there has not been  a  recurrence  of
  the  problem  this year.  There is no haze but  blue  skies
  and good Malaysian sunshine to greet our visitors.
  
  8.    There  was  one  occasion  last  year  when  we  were
  indebted  to the unique properties of the helicopter.   Its
  suitability  for  search  and rescue  operation  was  amply
  demonstrated  in  lifting  to  safety  the  victims  of   a
  climbing expedition on Mount Kinabalu by the RMAF.
  
  9.    These are some of the ways in which the helicopter is
  capable  of life saving and other hazardous operations  not
  possible  to conventional aircraft.  At the same  time,  it
  is  a  very versatile machine with a multiplicity of  uses.
  Malaysia,  where  parts  of our country  are  still  fairly
  inaccessible  will  find  the helicopter  invaluable,  from
  flying  doctor service to political campaigning.   We  have
  extensive  oil and gas operations offshore to which  access
  is   again   most  often  by  helicopter.   Its   uses   in
  reconnaissance  work is also an accepted  part  of  defence
  and  military operations whilst increasingly it is used for
  commercial transport.
  
  10.   An  exhibition of this kind puts  on  show  the  full
  range and scope of helicopter activities.  It provides  the
  most  essential,  up-to-date leading  edge  information  on
  technical and operational developments in the industry.  In
  any  business,  information is the key.   Leading  aviation
  and   defence   journals  will  be  covering   the   event.
  Exhibitors  will be assured therefore, of a  wide  exposure
  for  their  products  and  services.   This  is  a  premier
  business  event bringing suppliers and users face to  face.
  The rest is up to you.
  
  11.   I  would like to end by taking a forward look at  the
  smoother air ahead and the hopes for the future.   We  have
  less  than  400  days to the next millennium.   The  future
  world   in   the   21st  Century  will  be  predicated   on
  globalisation  and  technology.   We  in  Malaysia  welcome
  globalisation  and  new  technology.   We  are  very  ready
  receivers of it and here I appeal to the big names  in  the
  international  helicopter industry who are  represented  in
  this  room.   We wish to develop further our aerospace  and
  aviation  businesses.  I hope therefore you will  look  not
  only  at the market place created by an exhibition of  this
  kind  but also at the scope for manufacturing your products
  in  this  country.   Initially perhaps the  wide  range  of
  components  on  which you depend.  We can promise  you  the
  necessary  support  base of engineering skills  that  makes
  this  possible.  In fact, our radar may look ahead  to  the
  day  when  Alexander Shephard will organise  the  HELI-ASIA
  that  will feature helicopters made in Malaysia.   This  is
  the sort of globalisation we like.
  
  12.   In  the  meantime,  there is much  to  enjoy  in  the
  present  exhibition.   Malaysia  is  justly  proud  of  its
  conference facilities.  This year the organisers  of  HELI-
  ASIA  have added a static helicopter display alongside  the
  exhibition booths.  Arrangements have been made for  flight
  demonstrations at the Sungei Besi Airbase.   Also  new  are
  the  specialist  workshops courtesy of the  sponsorship  of
  your  industry  leaders who will be sharing their  advanced
  knowledge  and  expertise  over  a  number  of  specialised
  areas.  We very much appreciate their contribution.
  
  13.   On  my  part,  I  pledge  the  full  support  of  the
  Government  behind this event.  It promises to  be  a  very
  exciting  and  rewarding  three  days.   And  now  it  only
  remains for me to declare HELI-ASIA 98 officially open.