Was Lima '23 a letdown?

 

An aerobatic team wowing the crowd at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition last month. PIC BY ASWADI ALIAS

WHEN Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan spoke to the press the day before the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition 2023 (Lima '23) opened last month, he was sure that it would be the best showing ever.

There were many things driving his viewpoint. In truth, he had every right to think so.

Why not? He knew that close to RM18 billion worth of deals would be inked at the show, of which just over RM10.1 billion would be related to his ministry.

Lima '23 had many other things going for it, too. There were 525 exhibitors filling up the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC). And all the big boys in the maritime and aerospace industries were there.

There were more than 100 aircraft on display, including those of the five foreign aerobatic teams, like the super popular Black Eagles of South Korea, the Russian Knights, Indonesia's Jupiter and China's August 1st.

Joining for the first time was the Al Fursan team from the United Arab Emirates.

All these flew impressive displays, joined of course by the Royal Malaysian Air Force's Sukhoi SU-30MKM Flankers and F/A-18D Hornets, ever the crowd favourites.

Our RMAF flyboys' popularity was overshadowed, perhaps, only by the Black Eagles, fuelled no doubt by Malaysians' obsession with K-pop and K-drama.

To a lesser extent, maybe, interest was also piqued by the fact that our government had decided to procure Korea Aerospace Industry's FA-50 planes for the RMAF's light combat aircraft programme. The Eagles, after all, fly a version of the FA-50.

That Langkawi has not seen a Lima for four years, the biennial show last being held in 2019, meant there would be great interest in the world's only show where maritime and aerospace are combined.

The pandemic that had caused the 2021 show to be cancelled was indeed expected to take the 16th Lima edition to greater heights.

But questions remain over whether Mohamad was truly happy with what occurred over the five days of the exhibition. Was it the best show ever?

The New Sunday Times spoke to several exhibitors, particularly the ones who have been around for many editions.

The one word they all had was "chaotic". The trouble is that all of them could not say why they found Lima '23 chaotic.

It was not just exhibitors. Many members of the armed forces are veterans of Lima exhibitions, and they too used the same word.

The only difference is, where exhibitors may have been more diplomatic, our military men and women — again, veterans of many editions of Lima — were more scathing, claiming that this year's show was one of the worst.

Indeed, it was tough to discern why things seemed chaotic. There was no one reason. You just could not, try as you might, put your finger on it. It was more like a sum of all things. It just did not sit well.

So, here are just a few suggestions to make things better and for Lima to grow:

THE Langkawi Development Authority should take up Mohamad's suggestion to expand the MIEC in order to take in more exhibitors.

To that end, the Defence and Transport ministries (and organisers) should start working immediately on getting more exhibitors for Lima '25.

IF the Lima '23 organisers are to be dropped, appoint another as soon as possible;

START attracting more foreign participation in air and maritime shows. Besides the aerobatic teams, there were no companies showing off their assets over Langkawi, and no foreign involvement in the maritime segment.

ENSURE nearby public parking. This time, there was none and people had to park far away, despite the fact that a nearby lot stood empty. If traffic is a concern, then provide shuttle buses. This was especially needed during the two public days, when 250,000 people or more thronged the exhibition.

PROVIDE more frequent boat rides for the public to take in the maritime segment.

There may be many more suggestions, which is why it would be best if exhibitors were engaged to find out what needs were lacking and what they would like to see done.

Another suggestion would be to visit established events like the ones in Paris and Farnborough as learning trips. - NST

The writer, Leslie Andres  is an NST news editor and has covered many Lima exhibitions

The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the MMKtT.