SPEECH TEXT

YAB DATO’ SERI DIRAJA ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM

PRIME MINISTER

 

 

FOR THE

17th EDITION OF LANGKAWI INTERNATIONAL MARITIME AND AEROSPACE EXHIBITION (LIMA 2025)

 

 

19th MAY 2025 (MONDAY)

LANGKAWI INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE (LICC),

PULAU LANGKAWI, KEDAH

 

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, dan Salam sejahtera.

 

Saudara YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin,

Menteri Pertahanan dan seluruh pimpinan Kementerian Pertahanan yang menyelenggarakan majlis pada malam ini;

 

Saudara saya YAB Dato’ Seri Haji Muhammad Sanusi bin Md Nor,

Menteri Besar Kedah;

 

Ketua Setiausaha Negara;

Panglima Angkatan Tentera;

Ketua Polis Negara; dan

Rakan-rakan yang saya muliakan

 

1. Malam ini kita dapat bersama-sama sekadar menyantuni rakan-rakan yang telah menyertai dan memberikan dukungan bagi menjayakan Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2025. Mencatat satu kejayaan yang cukup membanggakan ketimbang tahun lalu dan tahun sebelumnya. Jadi, untuk itu saya menyatakan penghargaan kepada saudara Menteri Pertahanan, YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin, dan seluruh kontijen Kementerian Pertahanan yang telah bekerja bertungkus-lumus menjayakan majlis ini.

 

Excellency, ladies and gentlemen,

 

2. I notice the presence of many ministers here. Malaysia, as you know, is a maritime nation surrounded by the Indian Ocean, to the Strait of Malacca, and the South China Sea. And we have seen this cohesive comradeship among ASEAN leaders to ensure and secure peace in the region, but always prepared for the unprecedented consequences.

 

3. And we are, therefore, fortunate to have the participation of many of our key neighbors, ranging from Korea, China, India, and of course, ASEAN as a pillar, and also participation from Europe, the United States, and ensuring neighbors. So, I think I must therefore, commend you for the support — very meaningful — is far more successful than our LIMA in the past. That, of course, is due to the support of many of the countries that do participate in this venture.

 

4. And, as YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin has mentioned, the need to expose and use this occasion to ensure that people do understand and appreciate new technology — very competitive and very critical to meet our needs and the region’s needs. And, at the same time, to explore the possibilities of collaboration, which would also support the indigenous and local Malaysian enterprise.

 

5. Now, the themes of course, ‘Innovate Today, and Thrive Tomorrow’, reflecting our shared ambition to shape the future based on principles of progress, of course, resilience and collaboration.

 

6. I must state that we are very fortunate Malaysia in this region, ASEAN considered to be one of the most peaceful regions in the world and economically vibrant and able to attract interests, expertise and investments including in maritime and aerospace fields.

 

7. Notwithstanding, then the following question would be if it is so peaceful and the friendliness between neighboring countries is secured, as I’ve said, from the Indian nation to Strait of Malacca to South China Sea, then why they need to promote LIMA? Now I think without exaggeration, I must state that any country to secure and ensure peace, there must be preparedness and must be able to appreciate the changing circumstances, the state-of-the-art, individual industry. And you have seen in the past years in this exhibition and this year’s LIMA, the changing capacity.

 

8. From the report I have seen the change not only unprecedented, the pace of change, particularly with new technology and AI, is exceptional. And it is precisely for this reason that we find the world’s force exhibitions in defence and Commission, aerospace, peers and maritime is displayed for us to learn, share and see.

 

9. So, I must again reiterate my profound appreciation to have 860 exhibitors coming all the way to this beautiful island of Langkawi, I would say one of the most peaceful and most beautiful islands you can find in this region. I need an applause for that to appreciate Langkawi.

 

10. Many of you are Army president, technocrats and from the business community, do take some days off, this is Langkawi. Exhibition is of course a paramount importance; your primary objective here, but please understand and appreciate that this happens to be the Shangri-La and the Nirvana of the tourism industry.

 

11. You can bathe in the seas of Langkawi throughout the year is warm and pleasant, we don’t have winter here so please do spare and spend some time and dress yourself decently of course, because the Menteri Besar is here. But I would certainly urge you to take fullest opportunity in this historic place, an island of legends of a great historical significance, beauty and serenity.

 

12. So, focus on the exhibition and build up new strategic partners, particularly in defense industry, both maritime and aerospace but other than the focus on the maritime and aerospace fields you will have fullest opportunity to observe particularly tomorrow. Please do make full use of your stay in this beautiful island of Langkawi.

 

13. You know, we also take this opportunity to continue some of our collaboration among neighbours both in terms of joint border committees, Malacca Strait patrol, trilateral cooperation arrangements, mechanisms which have yielded tangible security outcomes, particularly in the maritime safety.

 

14. So, I think I would certainly appreciate that this growing collaboration, Malaysia stands is one committed to peace, engage with all countries. We ascribe to the ASEAN position of centrality takes a very strong committed position to engage with all our neighboring countries and partners, East and West, United States, China, India, Australia and the rest. And I think this for me, means truly strategic engagements with partners that will secure and ensure peace for the present and future.

 

15. This again is vital, as we seek to strengthen our local defence ecosystem and build self-reliance. Now at the global stage, we of course what’s strong our views in advocating international peace and security and our participation in peacekeeping efforts to the United Nations has been ongoing for a long, for decades. And we also emphasize on the need for deployable capacities and capabilities, including training and support for women, peace and security agenda.

 

16. So again, let me express my profound thanks to all of you, ministers and senior officials from various countries and companies who took time off and participate in this LIMA exhibition to portray your spirit of cooperation and taking Malaysia as a great friend.

 

Terima kasih. Wassalamualaikum.