SHAH ALAM: In the article on the unapproved 2023 budget put forward by the previous government, Malaysian Defence wrote that the RM25.3 million was allocated in the Defence Ministry funds for organising Lima 2023, scheduled for this May 23 to 27. As the Transport Ministry is jointly organising the show at Langkawi island, it is also getting a one-off budget of RM5.5 million for the event.
For the new 2023 budget proposed by the new government on February 24, the same amount of money was allocated for Lima 2023, RM25.3 for defence and RM5.5 million for transport. It must be noted that the-then Defence Minister Mohammad Sabu had stated in April 2019 that the cost for Lima 2019 was RM15 million, some 25 per cent less than what was spend in 2017 (RM20 million).
As the government has never detailed the spending expenditure for organising the LIMA series, I am unable to say exactly what the allocation had been spent on in the past nor for the latest one.
That said it is likely to pay for fuel, transport, accommodation, and other expenses of government personnel assigned to the air and maritime show – directly for the event or training days leading to the actual show itself.
It is also likely that we pay for the expenses of foreign militaries as well their VIPs invited to the event. Some of course – due to their respective national policies – will pay for their own transport, fuel, accommodation, and other expenses to participate or just for attending the show.
Only private visitors and companies – local or foreign – pay to visit or take part in the show. And of course, the public.
— Malaysian Defence
View Comments (49)
Marhalim, what is happening with the ANKA and ATR 72s. They were approved by H2O before the elections, but no mention with the new government. Are they still going ahead now?
Yes, the contract is ongoing. What else is there to say?
Nothing much PH Govt can do about the cost, everything is expensive nowadays. With the LCA/FLIT decision & renewed interest in LMS2, perhaps more suppliers will be interested to take part as compared to previous show.
2 is likely HMAV
Isn't the ATR-72 MPA something that the TUDM explicitly does not want, unlike the FA-50?
Marhalim, are you saying the LCA, UAV, MPA and LMS batch 2 are all progressing. The SPH KJA are now going to tender right?
Tom Tom - '' Are they still going ahead now?''
The Defence Minister has made it crystal clear that certain things approved by the previous government will proceed as planned. There's also the issue that a Hawk and Beechcraft replacement are much more pressing than the M-109s years ago and can't be further delayed.
'' perhaps more suppliers will be interested to take part as compared to previous show.''
Participating is essential as it shows presence which is essential as it's a long term exercise and competition is tight. Companies understand this and they have to attend although their presence might be scaled down. As a British Aerospace guy told me years ago; even if they fail to get an order for the next decade they still have to come. Since the first LIMA and DSA in the 1990's [at PWTC] I've seen companies which have yet to sell a single thing but still attend.
2023 may well be the year BAE Systems ....
Marhalim "2023 may well be the year BAE Systems …."
Get us to sign up for GCAP?😁
It's too early to say really but it's not looking good..
No, lah, it's their best bet. It's been there since 2017 , and it should have been signed if not for the 2018 GE. Of course, if possible, RMAF wants the P-8A, but we cannot afford it.
"Isn’t the ATR-72 MPA something that the TUDM explicitly does not want"
Well the alternative could be worse, they could get nothing! They would have learnt by taking a leaf from the M109 fiasco and seeing TDM are still without their SPH til today.
Is the SPH a priority program under 4nextG? Wasn't the big picture goal of 4nextG to have enough assets to defend East and West Malaysia at the same time? A second MBT unit to be based in East Malaysia? More MLRS and a second order of 155mm towed howitzer for East Malaysia? Or, is East Malaysia's defence sufficient with just 4x4 and 6x6, while the SPH stays in West Malaysia with the MBTs?