Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has dismissed reports claiming that 25 percent of Malaysia Airport Bhd’s (MAHB) shares would be acquired by a pro-Zionist foreign company.
Calling it baseless, he accused the opposition of trying to incite the public against the government by making the allegation.
“…nothing positive from them (opposition). They are jealous and only want to incite hatred.
“When we met with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, it didn’t change them (opposition). They only rely on slander and incitement.
“Even when our ringgit and local markets strengthen, that only upset them,” Bernama reported him as saying during a working visit to Kazakhstan today.
On May 15, Gateway Development Alliance and its shareholders announced a pre-conditional voluntary offer to acquire all the shares in MAHB not yet owned by the consortium at an offer price of RM11 a share, according to Bernama.
The consortium is led by two government-linked investment companies - Khazanah via its wholly-owned unit UEM Group Bhd and Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
The consortium’s shareholders also comprise a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia) and funds managed by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), one of the world’s premier infrastructure investors and an experienced airport owner and manager.
GIP is wholly owned by BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, and is connected to Lockheed Martin, a company that supplies arms used against Palestinians.
As of May 14, the consortium and their respective holding companies collectively own 41.1 percent of MAHB’s issued shares.
Upon full completion of the offer, Khazanah will increase its ownership in MAHB from 33.2 percent to 40 percent, and EPF from 7.9 percent to 30 percent.
Collectively, local investors would own 70 percent of MAHB, while Adia and GIP will hold the remaining 30 percent.
The proposed deal has triggered the ire of Perikatan Nasional Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden, who raised concerns about a pro-Zionist company having shares in MAHB.
“This should not happen. Malaysia has reiterated its decision to refrain from normalising any relationship with Israel. This should include trade relationships too,” he said in a statement.
Afnan added that GIP’s participation in MAHB would allow the latter to gain profit and contribute to Israel’s actions against Palestine.
Machang MP’s claim ‘unfounded’
In response to the allegation made by Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal regarding the government’s purported sale of a portion of MAHB shares to foreign entities, Transport Minister Anthony Loke asserted that the claim was unfounded.
“His information is inaccurate. He said we are disposing of it, but we are not. Khazanah is not disposing of MAHB. On the contrary, through this proposal, Khazanah and EPF will further increase their stakes in MAHB,” he said.
Loke said the privatisation project would boost MAHB’s efficiency through swift strategic decision-making and facilitate its way forward.
Loke said his ministry supports Khazanah’s proposal to restructure MAHB.
“It was Khazanah’s decision (to propose), not the ministry’s. It decided to take MAHB private from the share market. Of course, the ministry is aligned with what Khazanah has proposed,” he was reported as saying.
“When MAHB becomes a fully private entity under Khazanah and EPF as a strategic asset of the government and the country, I am confident that various strategic decisions can be implemented swiftly,” he was quoted by Bernama as saying after chairing the National Logistics Task Force meeting today.
On March 11, the New Straits Times reported Loke as dismissing reports about Khazanah and EPF’s plan to form a consortium when questioned by Wan Fayhsal, calling it a mere assumption.
“There has been no official announcement indicating our intention to sell to GIP.
“It was purportedly decided back in 2019, during the Pakatan Harapan government’s tenure, and it was never discussed in the cabinet.
“You can ask the party president. It was never discussed,” he said in his winding-up speech at the Dewan Rakyat at the time. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.