LANGKAWI: The just-concluded Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition (Lima 2009) proved to be a quiet affair for the armed forces, especially for the navy and air force.

Due to the crunching impact of the global financial crisis, the government had had to slash its defence spending, forcing it to defer several major arms procurements.

THE local defence industry is abuzz with speculation that the procurement of the Eurocopter EC725 Cougar medium-utility helicopters will be inked at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace 2009 (Lima 2009), in Langkawi next week.

The Defence Ministry has remained tight-lipped on speculation about the RM1.604 billion deal, nixed last year by then Prime Minister and D