Agong visits defence exhibition

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Tuanku Abdul Halim (centre) tries out a M4 Carbine Monolithic when visiting the 2014 Defence Services Asia (DSA) Exhibition at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama photo

KUALA LUMPUR: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah visited the 2014 Defence Services Asia (DSA) Exhibition at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), here, yesterday.

His arrival at 11am was received by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, senior officers of the Malaysian Armed Forces and foreign representatives.

His Majesty spent almost two hours visiting the exhibition centres of defence companies from numerous countries including local companies DRB-Hicom Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd (Deftech), SME Ordnance Sdn Bhd, Sapura Group and Boustead Naval Shipyard.

In addition, when at the SME Ordnance Sdn Bhd exhibition booth, he spent time to handle the M4 Carbine Monolithic Piston.

Subsequently, Tuanku Abdul Halim with Hishammuddin also rode in an armoured car belonging to Thales of the United Kingdom which was armed with a high speed guided missile launcher ‘Starstreak’.

The 2014 DSA Exhibition, which ends tomorrow, exhibited defence equipment and technology, weapons system and latest generic security solution to meet the needs of the national security forces and Asia-Pacific nations.

The organisation recorded the biggest participation since its debut in 1988, with the involvement of 1,000 defence industry companies from 50 countries compared to 850 exhibitors in 2012.

Among the foreign defence companies taking part in 2014 DSA this time were from Australia, Austria, China, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, South Africa and Norway.

More than 27,000 visitors from 50 countries including 300 dignitaries from international delegations were expected to visit 2014 DSA. — Bernama