Tourism Langkawi {dot} Com

By: EMBUN MAJID

LANGKAWI: It’s all systems go for the latest edition of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) Exhibition 2009 with military aircraft and warships on showcase from today till Saturday.

The world-class platform for the aerospace and maritime industries is recording several firsts.
Swing-wing jet: An F-111 of the Royal Australian Air Force rehearsing for the air show in Langkawi yesterday. — Bernama

The Royal Malaysian Navy’s first submarine KD Tunku Abdul Rahman will make its maiden appearance at the maritime segment show at Awana Porto Malai.

The Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarine is expected to be the main draw of the maritime show.

The exhibition has also recorded the largest number of ships anchored off Porto Malai – a total of 99 warships and vessels of all kinds.

Another first is the first appearance by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) with its AH-64D Longbow Apache helicopter and F-16 Fighting Falcon jets, which are expected to carry out aerial displays to thrill the visitors.

Another debut is the huge B-52 bomber of the United States Air Force, which is expected to make a low-level fly-past routine.
Underwater defender: Malaysia’s first submarine, the ‘KD Tunku Abdul Rahman’, being moored at the Awana Porto Malai jetty yesterday. — Bernama

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who made final checks on preparations for the show yesterday, said this year’s event would see the maritime and aerospace exhibition being merged under one roof at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC).

Zahid said 10 memorandums of understanding on the de- fence and aerospace industries would be signed between Malaysia and participating countries.

Also for the first time, the 96th Armed Forces Hospital will provide medical treatment for participants and visitors to the exhibition venue.

A temporary army hospital with 50 beds, an operating theatre and a medical laboratory has been set up at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre parking area.

Tickets to the event cost RM10, while children below 12 are allowed free entrance.

The air show will only be opened to the public on Saturday.

A total of 325 exhibitors from 25 countries are participating in Lima this year.

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LANGKAWI, Nov 23 (Bernama) — The Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 09) from Dec 1-5 will focus on maritime as participation in the segment has increased compared to aerospace.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said 94 vessels would be taking part in the maritime static show at Awana Porto Malai compared to 71 vessels at LIMA 07.

“The public will also get to see Malaysia’s first submarine KD Tunku Abdul Rahman,” he said after chairing a meeting on LIMA 09 here Monday.

The aerospace segment would not lack excitement as aircraft from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) would be putting up shows.

The reduced participation in the aerospace segment was due to air shows in Dubai, Paris, Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia and also the economic slowdown.

Zahid said more than 300 companies from 24 countries led by Italy would be participating in LIMA 09, the tenth in the series.

He hoped that organiser HW Lima would improve facilities at LIMA to stop companies from moving on to exhibitions in Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia.

In conjunction with LIMA 09, the Tourism Ministry will hold a food and handicraft exhibition and cultural shows at Awana Porto Malai and Kompleks Pekan Rabu in Kuah.

- BERNAMA