Saturday, March 30, 2013

Malaysian Aerospace Centre Since 1993

The talks by politician on the topic of building Malaysian Aerospace centre with acceptable level of credibility has been going on for more than 20 years.

In 1993, the PM then, made an ambitious plan to put Malaysia into Aerospace Manufacturing map, and three projects were launched..

- The Eagle Aircraft Project by Eagle Aircraft (Malaysia) Sdn Berhad. Many are wondering what happen this project. I know a few Eagles were on sale for RM50,000 to training organisations.
-   The second project was the German-designed Dornier Seastar CD2,  a twin engine forteen seater amphibious aircraft scheduled to be manufactured in 1993.
- The third is the  Swiss-designed Datwyler MD3-160. The two-seater aerobatic trainer aircraft by SME Aerospace.

Looking to the south, the neighboring Singapore had made a giant lap, It may be a good idea for the the Minister Mukhriz to

The extract of the speech is given below...


Oleh/By  : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue  :  LANGKAWI, KEDAH 
Tarikh/Date  :  07/12/93 
Tajuk/Title   :  THE OPENING OF THE LANGKAWI  
   INTERNATIONAL MARITIME AND 
   AEROSPACE EXHIBITION 1993 


 
    On behalf of all Malaysians, I  wish  everyone  a  warm
'Selamat  Datang'  to  the Islands of Langkawi, the isles of
many  legends,  and,  in   particular,   to   the   Langkawi
International  Maritime  and  Aerospace  Exhibition  (LIMA),
1993.   I hope you managed to get  a  glimpse  of  our  rich
cultural   heritage  in  the  welcoming  ceremony  you  just
witnessed.  For  those  who  were  here  for  the  inaugural
exhibition  of LIMA '91, I am sure you will have noticed the
many infrastructural changes which have been made.  This  is
to ensure that your stay here will be more comfortable.
2.      Langkawi  is  centrally  located  within  the growth
triangle  recently  formed  by  the  northern   states   and
provinces  of    Malaysia  and  Indonesia, with the southern
provinces of Thailand.  With this growth  triangle  concept,
it  is anticipated that the region will gain importance, not
only as an attractive tourist destination,  but  also  as  a
vital   investment   location.      An  international  level
exhibition such as  LIMA  is  both  apt  and  timely.    The
Government  hopes  that  more  international  events will be
staged  here   in   Langkawi,   especially   at   this   new
International   Exhibition   and  Convention  Centre.
3.    Although most of the world saw recessionary trends  in
the  last  few   years,    the   economies   of  East  Asian
nations -- particularly those in Southeast Asia  -- continue
to  show dynamic  growth.   Malaysia is at the heart of this
growing region and has developed a strong manufacturing base
during the last five years.  The Malaysian economy has moved
away  from  its traditional reliance on the  export  of  raw
materials to the export of  manufactured  goods.    Malaysia
is also  moving  away  from  labour - intensive  to  capital         and
technology-intensive industries.
4.   With this solid 'hi-tech' and  engineering  background,
Malaysia is proud to step into the aerospace industry.  When
LIMA  '91  was  held  it  stimulated  a  lot of interest and
awareness among Malaysians and foreign industrialists of the
potential that exists in the aerospace industry,  especially
in  the  Asia  Pacific region.   This industry is associated
with high technology which we  are  anxious  to  acquire  in
order to bring the nation to a higher level of technological
advancement and international competitiveness.
5.      This  time,  two  years  after LIMA '91, a Malaysian
company,  Composite  Technology  Research  Malaysia  (CTRM),
announced  its  participation in the production of the Eagle
X-TS, a light all- composite aircraft, in  partnership  with
an  Australian  company.    As of May 28 this year, Malaysia
took over the whole company.  The first production model  of
the  Eagle  rolled  out  of the Australian facility in Perth
last October.  Today, it is being displayed  for  the  first
time  in Malaysia.  Plans are now in hand to manufacture the
aircraft entirely in Malaysia.  The Eagle project is one  of
the  bold  steps  that  we  are  taking  into  the  world of
composite technology.  Eagle Aircraft (Malaysia) Sdn  Berhad
has also secured firm orders for six aircraft from its first
customer,  the Conservation and Land Management Authority of
Western Australia.  The Eagle is suited for  leisure  flying
and for surveillance work.
6.    This year,   Malaysia became  involved  in  two  other
aircraft manufacturing  projects.  I am pleased to  announce
that   the   German-designed   Dornier   Seastar   CD2,    a
twin-engined   fourteen-seater,    amphibious   aircraft  is
scheduled for manufacture in Penang  next  year.   Aerospace
Industries   Malaysia  (AIM)  is  leading  a  consortium  of
companies to produce the Seastar entirely in Malaysia.  This
aircraft  has enormous scope for sales in the   Asia-Pacific
region, being useful both for maritime patrols,  search  and
rescue missions, as well as for lake and island resorts.
7.   A third project is the production of the Swiss-designed
Datwyler MD3-160 two-seater aerobatic trainer aircraft.  SME
Aerospace will be producing these low-cost trainers, and  we
expect  to  see  the  first  Malaysian-produced  MD3s flying
before the end of next year.   There is a  demand  for  this
category  of  aircraft world-wide and SME Aerospace hopes to
secure a market niche.
8.   In manufacturing these three aircraft, we have embarked
on new areas  of  technology  with  very  stringent  quality
requirements.    The  demands of the aerospace industry also
require that the Malaysian workforce be extremely  conscious
of  quality  in the whole production process.  We believe we
have the necessary work ethics and skills for this  kind  of
industry.
9.     These are undoubtedly small beginnings.  But then the
U.S.  entered the aerospace industry with the Kitty Hawk, an
aircraft that is even more primitive than the three aircraft
I have mentioned.   In a century's  time  we  may  have  our
Boeing  and McDonnell Douglas counterpart, God willing.  But
a beginning has to be made.  And three small aircraft make a
good beginning, modest though they may be.
10.    In conjunction with its efforts to  promote composite
product  manufacturing  in  Malaysia,   the  Government  has
approved a Composite  Manufacturing  Zone  (CMZ) in Malacca.
The CMZ,  among other things, will house:
      -  an aerospace industries centre, with Eagle Aircraft
         Malaysia taking the lead;
      -  a non-aerospace products manufacturing centre, with
         Talon  Malaysia  as  a   key  tenant  manufacturing
         hockey sticks from composite materials; and
      -  an advanced composites laboratory to provide
         research backup for companies located in the CMZ.
11.    We  look forward to having more companies, both local
and foreign, joining us at the CMZ.  Composites, as you  are
well  aware,  could  be  used  in  the  manufacture  of many
sporting items, marine  vessels,  fittings  for  trains  and
vehicles  and  all containers where payload and strength are
major considerations.   Of course more  and  more  composite
materials  are  being  used  in both commercial and military
aircraft.   Up till now a  great  deal  of  manual  work  is
required.    And Malaysia's low-cost highly- skilled workers
are a great asset in manufacturing with composites.
12.    Malaysia  is  also  developing   its   own   maritime
industries.    We  have  already  built freighters and ferry
boats.  The naval dockyard at Lumut, which was  corporatised
two  years  ago, will be a new entrant into the shipbuilding
industry.  It will be involved in the construction of patrol
vessels for the Royal Malaysian Navy in  collaboration  with
foreign  shipbuilding companies.   Local industries involved
in the manufacture and supply  of  shipboard  equipment  and
systems  will  be  able  to participate and benefit from the
transfer of its technology.  The Ministry  of  International
Trade  and  Industry  will  spearhead  a  vendor development
programme for small and medium scale industries  to  support
the  patrol  vessel project, just as it did for the national
car project.
13.   There is  also  a  great  deal  of  potential  in  the
construction of pleasure craft.  During LIMA '91, almost all
the  pleasure  boats  exhibited  were sold by the end of the
exhibition.   The growing  affluence  of  Malaysia  and  its
neighbours  will undoubtedly create a demand for such craft.
I would like to urge local and foreign entrepreneurs to look
into the possibility of developing Malaysia as the  regional
centre  for  the  production of such craft.   With more such
craft in local waters there will  be  increasing  needs  for
marinas and boat maintenance facilities.  Quite a number are
being built now, but I believe more will be needed soon.
14.    In order to meet the demands of industrialisation and
new technologies, changes will  be  made  to  the  education
policy  and  new courses will be offered by the institutions
of higher learning, government and private sectors.
15.   The government spares no effort  to  provide  all  the
necessary  support  facilities to the private sector keen to
invest in high technology ventures.  The hi-tech park  being
developed  in  Kulim,  Kedah and the CMZ in Malacca are just
two examples of this effort.   The Malaysian  Government  as
you can see responds quickly to the needs of investors.
16.   I would like to point out once again that the Langkawi
International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition is not  just
another  aerospace or maritime show.  It is true that almost
every country in Asia now holds such exhibitions.  But  LIMA
is still relevant and special because it is held in a region
with the fastest growing economy.  People in this region are
now  more affluent and are  not  only  travelling  more  but
are  actually beginning to regard ownership of private jets
and luxury boats as essential for business and for pleasure.
17.   At LIMA, exhibitors will  have  the  maximum  time  to
display  and  demonstrate the capabilities of their products
to the people who matter.    The  site  of  this  exhibition
permits  full  aerobatics  as  we  are  not  hampered by the
operational  needs  of  a  busy   commercial   airport,   by
densely-populated population centres or by crowded harbours.
18.    LIMA  '93  is more than twice as big as LIMA '91, the
first aerospace and maritime exhibition in Langkawi.    This
in itself is evidence of its recognition and relevance.  But
in  addition,  the seminars on aviation held in conjunction,
is topical and relevant to the expanding air travel industry
in the region and the world.
19.  Besides, Langkawi is a wonderful place  for  both  work
and  play.    Less  than  10 years ago there were only about
30,000 visitors to these islands.   Last year  more  than  a
million  visitors  came,  some  30 percent of whom were from
outside Malaysia.  So your business visit in 1993 should  be
followed  by  vacations on these islands in the future.  You
will find that LIMA has introduced you to more than just  an
aerospace or maritime show.
20.  The series of LIMA exhibitions that we plan to stage is
also  aimed  at  challenging  Malaysians  to  respond and be
pro-active to the  demands  of  a  technology-driven  world.
Malaysia  cannot afford to be left behind.  In a competitive
world  there  can  be  no  complacency.    Alertness  and  a
willingness to venture into new fields are the prerequisites
of merely staying abreast.
21.      I would like to thank all exhibitors and guests who
have come from far and near to  support  LIMA  '93.    I  am
confident  that  the business contacts they will make in the
course of their participation  in  LIMA  '93  will  be  most
worthwhile.
22.    It  now  gives  me great pleasure to declare LIMA '93
open.

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