Strengthening strategic partnerships in Timor Leste’s aviation and energy sectors
Weststar Group was honored to welcome His Excellency Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, to its corporate headquarters in Kuala Lumpur for an official visit that underscores the growing strategic collaboration between the Weststar Group and the government of Timor-Leste.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by an esteemed delegation including His Excellency Dato’ Sri Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, Vice Prime Minister and Minister Coordinator for Economic Affairs; His Excellency Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; and Her Excellency Madam Maria Fernanda Lay, Speaker of the National Parliament.
The high-level visit reflects the mutual commitment of The Weststar Group and the Government of Timor-Leste to deepen bilateral cooperation in the areas of aviation, energy support services, and economic development.
In his welcome remarks, Tan Sri Dr. Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim, Group Managing Director of The Weststar Group, stated: “Weststar’s relationship with Timor-Leste dates back to 2014, beginning with the supply of 10 units of 4×4 General Service Cargo (GS Cargo) vehicles to the Timor-Leste Defence Forces. This year, we have proudly expanded our operations to include rotary-wing aviation support with the deployment of two AW189 helicopters based in Dili, operating under a contract with Santos in the Bayu Undan field.”
As part of Weststar’s long-term commitment to the region, the company is working in partnership with Timor GAP to further strengthen its presence in Timor-Leste through the introduction of the AW139 helicopter fleet. This next phase of operations will include support for utility, VIP, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
“Weststar has already conducted two EMS missions in Timor Leste, one of which included the honor of facilitating the air transport of the late Padre Domingos Maubere, a deeply respected spiritual leader in the country. This reflects not only the capabilities of our operations, but also the humanity that drives our mission,” added Tan Sri Dr. Syed Azman.
The visit also served as a platform to recognize Timor-Leste’s impending full accession to ASEAN, a milestone Weststar fully supports. “We look forward to seeing Timor-Leste take its rightful place within the ASEAN community. Weststar stands ready to support this transition by contributing to the region’s infrastructure and human capital development,” he said.
Weststar Aviation Services’ growing footprint in Timor-Leste is part of a broader strategic vision to strengthen the company’s presence in Southeast Asia, focusing on safety, service excellence, and sustainable growth in energy and government aviation sectors.
The visit concluded with a private dinner attended by distinguished Malaysian leaders and business captains, including Yang Amat Mulia Tengku Sulaiman Shah Al-Haj, the Tengku Laksamana of Selangor and Tan Sri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, Executive Chairman of Sunway Group.
“This is more than a business relationship, it is a shared journey built on mutual respect and a collective aspiration to serve communities and contribute meaningfully to national development,” Tan Sri Dr. Syed Azman concluded.
