Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. 
			MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	DEWAN PAMERAN ANTARABANGSA 
			MAHSURI LANGKAWI, KEDAH 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	02/12/99 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	MAJLIS PERASMIAN PERSATUAN 
			INDUSTRI AEROANGKASA MALAYSIA 


   
    
       Terlebih  dahulu  saya  mengucapkan  terima   kasih
  kepada  pihak  penganjur  dan   bersyukur  kepada  Allah
  Subhanahu  wa  Ta'ala  kerana dengan  limpah  kurnia-Nya
  kita  dapat  berjumpa  di majlis  pelancaran  Pertubuhan
  Industri Aerospace Malaysia pada hari ini.
  
  2.    Let  me  thank the organisers for inviting  me  to
  officially   launch  the  Malaysia  Aerospace   Industry
  Association  today.   I  wish to  congratulate  all  the
  members  of  this  organisation and  to  thank  you  for
   taking  the  initiative  to  form  the  first  aerospace
  industry  association in Malaysia.  As you all know  the
  Malaysian  Aerospace industry has been in existence  for
  more  than 30 years and an association is long  overdue.
  This  association has therefore been set up at the right
  time.
  
  3.    The  Government  has  identified  aerospace  as  a
  critical  industrial base for the future.  We have  made
  this   a   priority  sector  and  recognised  that   our
  capability  in  the aerospace industry  would  offer  us
  many  opportunities in advanced technologies.  Aerospace
  industry is a very technology-intensive industry and  is
  thus  suitable  for  the  nation  with  a  fast  growing
  skilled  labour force.  This industry involves the  most
  complex  core technologies which are applicable  to  all
  other  industries and provide critical technologies  for
  the  future.  It is therefore important that we  succeed
  not  only  for  our  own economic  growth  but  also  to
   contribute  towards  our competence in  high  technology
  businesses.
  
  4.    This  industry  requires heavy capital  investment
  and  a  long  gestation period.  For this reason  it  is
  only  right that the Government takes the initiative  to
  lead in developing this industry.  However the time  has
  come    for    the   private   sector   and   individual
  entrepreneurs   to   take   over   this    role.     The
  opportunities are there for you to further  develop  and
  the  Government will continue to provide  assistance  to
  ensure  its growth and success.  To ensure that Malaysia
  transforms  itself  into  a regional  and  international
  aerospace  player, the Government has  consolidated  the
  key  players of the industry.  I am happy to  note  that
  in  such  a short period of slightly over two  years  we
  have made significant progress.
  
  5.    Our  aerospace manufacturing sector has been  able
  to  achieve international recognition with orders now of
  over   US40   million.   The  workscope   has   expanded
   tremendously  from small aircraft parts  to  bigger  and
  more   complex  parts  being  made.   Our  international
  customer  base  has  also expanded and  now  covers  the
  entire   spectrum  including  military  and   commercial
  aircrafts, space and satellite equipment.  I  also  note
  with  pride  that we have intensified our activities  in
  capability  development which encompasses Structural  or
  Service  Life Extension Programmes, Systems Upgrade  and
  Modification, Avionics Upgrade and Systems  Integration,
  and  Aircraft Stretch Mode.  I wish to congratulate  the
  industries for taking these initiatives as they are  the
  trend  of  the  future.   The  cost  of  acquiring   new
  aircrafts  in  the future is getting expensive,  if  not
  astronomical, and many countries including the West  are
  now   extending  the  service  life  of  their   present
  aircrafts  by  such programmes.  It is therefore  timely
  that  you  have taken these initiatives to acquire  such
  expertise.
   
  6.    It  is also strategic in the sense that should  we
  ourselves   require  such  programmes  for   the   Royal
  Malaysian  Air Force or Armed Forces, then the expertise
  is  already home grown and available in the country.   I
  am  also  very  sure  that the major  avionic  equipment
  suppliers are confident and would like to see  that  the
  avionics  upgrade and systems integration  programme  or
  any  other such programmes are done here in Malaysia  to
  tap  our  capability and expertise.   These  initiatives
  and   readiness   of   the  private   sector   therefore
  complement the objectives of the Government.
  
  7.    As you all know today we are going to witness  the
  signing  of  several more agreements with  our  overseas
  friends  for  the  manufacture and  supply  of  aircraft
  parts and components.  I must congratulate you for  this
  success.    This  is  very  timely  in  fulfilling   our
  objective   to  position  Malaysia  as   a   centre   of
  excellence   in   aerospace  technology   and   aviation
   engineering.    I   believe  that  our   commitment   in
  developing  our  'maintenance culture'  would  transform
  Malaysia  into  a competitive and quality aerospace  and
  aviation centre in this region, if not the world.
  
  8.    I thank you all for the hard work.  Please keep it
  up  and  intensify your efforts.  Much more can be  done
  and  I urge you all to grab the opportunities.  We  have
  the  capabilities  and the Government will  provide  the
  necessary  assistance.  With that I  wish  the  Malaysia
  Aerospace Industry Association good luck and success.
  
  9.      Dengan   sukacitanya   saya   dengan    rasminya
  melancarkan Persatuan Industri Aeroangkasa Malaysia.