Alternative sites for LIMA proposed amid regional competition, says Khaled

Defence Minister Khaled Nordin has proposed exploring alternative venues for the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) to maintain the event's relevance amidst regional competition, according to a report by Bernama.

Nordin highlighted the growing number of neighbouring countries organising defence exhibitions, such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand, which are intensifying competition. He emphasised the need for improvements in venue size, facilities, and overall exhibition standards to prevent a decline in participation.

"If the site in Langkawi becomes too small, we need to consider alternative options to ensure a larger turnout," Nordin stated, responding to former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's stance that there is no urgency to relocate LIMA from Langkawi, given its international recognition.

The minister previously suggested hosting LIMA in Melaka in the future, acknowledging that significant government investment would be required to develop the necessary infrastructure at that location. Nordin pointed to the example of the Defence Services Asia (DSA) Exhibition, which faced space constraints and required substantial modification to accommodate large defence assets and vehicles.

Regarding the potential name change of the exhibition, Nordin indicated that the decision has yet to be made, adding that the current focus is on assessing the feasibility of relocating the event.