Maritime Segment Open To Public Throughout LIMA 09

LANGKAWI, Nov 24 (Bernama) -- The maritime segment of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 09) will be open to the public for the first time from Dec 1 to 5 to encourage more visitors to the exhibition.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said previously, the segment was only open to the public on the last day of the exhibition.
"We have discussed with the organisers of LIMA 09, and they had agreed to give members of the public the opportunity (to visit the maritime segment) to raise the number of visitors to the maritime segment," he said at a media conference after observing the preparations at the venue of the exhibition at Awana Porto Malai and Mahsuri International Exhibition Hall, here Tuesday.
Participation for the maritime segment rose to 94 ships and boats at the static maritime show at the Awana Porto Malai, compared with 71 ships in 2007.
He said that the people would be able to see the first Malaysian submarine, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman at the LIMA 09.
Meanwhile, Zahid said for the aerospace show, it would be the same as the previous ones where it would be open to the public on the last day of LIMA 09.
He said a discussion would be held with the organisers to reduce the ticket price (original price is RM20) to encourage more visitors to come.
He said the aerospace show was expected to attract much attention with the emergence of the Apache helicopters and the F-16 fighter jets belonging to the Singapore Air Force, aircraft from the United States Air Force, Royal Brunei Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
To date, more than 300 companies from 24 countries had confirmed their participation at LIMA 09.
-- BERNAMA

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