Malaysia ready to aid Gaza in restoring clean water supply post-conflict

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Fadillah Yusof stated that Malaysia is ready to repair or rebuild the clean water supply system in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, post-conflict.

He conveyed this to Palestinian Water Minister Mazen Ghunaim, who is also the head of the Palestinian Water Authority, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the high-level leadership meeting at the 10th World Water Forum that concluded today, at Ghunaim’s request.

“They expressed hope that Malaysia could provide various forms of assistance, especially technical assistance after the current crisis.

“At present, the clean water supply there is severely affected and disrupted,” he told Malaysian media.

“We are ready to provide technical assistance, provided we are allowed entry into their country. This requires further discussion on the methods, timing, and ways of implementation with the Palestinian side,” added Fadillah (above).

According to Fadillah, Malaysia has already sent some humanitarian aid, including bottled water supplies, to be channelled to Palestine.

- Bernama

Parallel pathway: Ku Li disagrees with allowing non-bumi into UiTM

As the issue on whether to open up Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) cardiothoracic surgery training to non-bumiputera medical officers rages on, another Umno leader has voiced reservations against the idea.

According to Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, UiTM should continue to be reserved for bumiputera students.

“If we set up something for a specific purpose, keep it that way.

“There will come a time when we may need to change if there is a need but for now, I don’t think the situation permits it.

“So, let’s continue with its original intention,” Razaleigh (above) told reporters after the launch of his book titled “Ku Li: Memoir 205”.

On April 25, health news website Codeblue reported Raja Amin Raja Mokhtar, a board member of the UiTM-IJN (National Heart Institute) cardiothoracic surgery postgraduate programme, as saying the varsity is agreeable to opening the course to non-bumiputera students.

UiTM is the only varsity that offers a parallel pathway programme in collaboration with IJN in the cardiothoracic field, which comprises surgery and care for heart and lung diseases.

Despite this, Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said there had been no discussions on allowing the entry of non-bumiputera students and that the issue had been turned into a point of contention.

The idea courted opposition from several quarters, with UiTM’s student council calling students to wear black to protest the plan.

They also asked students to upload photos with the placard #MahasiswaUiTMBantah on social media in support of the campaign.

Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh also joined the foray on May 17 and sided with the students protesting.

No provision in law

However, on May 18, Lawyers for Liberty said there is no provision in the law that prohibits the admission of non-bumiputera students into UiTM.

Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek

“The multitude of statements that have come up from various quarters on this issue have misunderstood and twisted the meaning of Article 153 of the Constitution and its relation to UiTM.

“This is hardly surprising as successive governments and political leaders since the early 1970s have consistently misinterpreted and abused the application of Article 153 for political gain at the expense of national unity.

“This has led to disadvantages for non-bumiputera which is not envisaged by Article 153,” its director Zaid Malek was reported as saying. - Mkini

MAHB privatisation to ease pressure on govt coffers

 

Privatising Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) would significantly ease pressure on the government’s financial coffers, said academic Mohd Harridon Mohamed Suffian.

He said this is because the airport operator would not be fully dependent on the government to finance its operational activities and capital expenditures.

The associate professor from Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology added that the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia) is a well-known funder with investments worldwide.

“If MAHB actuates or undertakes special-purpose projects, the primary source of funds would be derived from Adia.

“This is a strategic move as the controlling stake is within the prerogative of the government while at the same time reducing taxpayers’ contributions,” he noted.

On May 15, Gateway Development Alliance and its shareholders announced a pre-conditional voluntary offer to acquire all shares in MAHB not already owned by the consortium at an offer price of RM11.00 per share.

The consortium is led by two Malaysian government-linked investment companies – Khazanah Nasional Bhd (via its wholly owned subsidiary UEM Group Bhd) and the Employees’ Provident Fund.

Upon full completion of the offer, Khazanah will be increasing its ownership in MAHB from 33.2 to 40 percent, and EPF from 7.9 to 30 percent.

Collectively, Malaysian investors would own 70 percent of MAHB, while Adia and the Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), one of the world’s premier infrastructure investors and an experienced airport owner and manager, will hold the remaining 30 percent.

The Malaysian government will retain special share rights in MAHB and the chairperson and CEO will continue to be Malaysian citizens.

Reduce wastage, optimise operations

Harridon emphasised that Adia’s rigorous attention to detail adds another layer of consideration, as the organisation meticulously establishes milestones and key performance indicators to guide project implementation.

“This ensures that any projects undertaken by MAHB would be scrutinised in terms of their efficiency and effectiveness and that progressions of projects are streamlined.

“It is also a norm for MAHB investors to seek the airport operator’s justification for operational expenditures to reduce wastage and plausibly to unearth the optimum methodology to operate the organisation,” he said.

This should be viewed positively, as it signals a proactive effort to optimise MAHB’s operational framework, thereby amplifying the return on investment.

However, he also highlighted the importance of determining whether the privatisation of MAHB is genuinely feasible for the government.

“Hence, the government must engage and utilise mathematical models to holistically assess the privatisation process,” Harridon said.

To date, MAHB manages 39 airports throughout Malaysia, including five international airports, 17 domestic airports, and 17 StolPorts (Short Take-Off and Landing), as well as the Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Turkiye.

At lunch break, shares of MAHB slid by two sen to RM10.08 with 4.18 million shares transacted.

- Bernama