PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today dismissed reports indicating that Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has been sold to foreign companies.
He explained that Khazanah Nasional Bhd and Employee Provident Fund’s ownership will increase from 41% to 70% through the share deal with Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).
“According to Khazanah Nasional, 145 companies had initially applied to participate in the consortium to take over MAHB.
“However, in the end, only three were found suitable. One of the criteria was that the chairman and CEO of MAHB and majority shareholders must be Malaysian,” he told the Dewan Rakyat.
He pointed out that this was different from the narrative being spread by certain quarters.
“There is no sale of MAHB to any foreign company. Foreign companies only own 27% and this is what is held by GIP and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia).
“So, collectively, Malaysian investors will own 70% of MAHB, while Adia and GIP, the balance 30%,” he said.
Last month, Khazanah announced that it was leading a consortium known as Gateway Development Alliance (GDA) in a conditional voluntary offer to buy all shares in MAHB that it did not own.
However, concerns arose after BlackRock, an American asset management company with pro-Israeli links, acquired GIP.
The transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year.
GIP had reiterated that BlackRock was not in any way involved in the transaction relating to MAHB privatisation through GDA.
“There will be no threat to national security due to GIP’s stake in MAHB. The airports still belong to the government and national security issues come under the government’s purview,” stressed Anwar.
The prime minister also said it was unrealistic to cancel all deals with Israel-linked companies like Apple and Microsoft.
“Apple and Microsoft have Israeli interests, so should we cancel our deals with them?”
“It may sound good to hear, but it is not realistic,” he said.
On June 22, Malaysia’s first-ever Apple store at Exchange TRX officially opened its doors to the public. – June 25, 2024
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