LIVID over Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz threat to take action against those who spread “rumours” over Subang airport’s proposed acquisition, a veteran unionist shot back saying “there is no smoke without fire”.
“Does the Government think we unionists have nothing better to do and just create issues out of nothing?
“We’re not fools. We have been voicing against the proposed acquisition of the Subang airport because the proposals were being drafted.
“Don’t try to confuse the unions or rakyat. People are already very angry and just waiting for the general election,” UNI-Malaysia Labour Centre (UNI-MLC) president Datuk Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal told FocusM.
Last month, Subang Skypark Sdn Bhd (SSSB) proposed to enter a new concession to operate the entire Subang Airport area until 2092 – developing it to be a city airport.
Tycoon Tan Sri Desmond Lim Siew Choon is planning a takeover of the airport, but key Government-linked stakeholders are objecting the move, claiming estimated losses of up to RM11.9 bil.
SSSB is believed to have made the proposal to the Government via the Transport Ministry (MOT). The company plans to turn the Subang airport to target point-to-point passengers and express freight together with related property developments.
However, all three unions under MAHB had objected to it and delivered petitions to MOT, Finance Ministry (MOF) and the Sultan of Selangor.
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and Shafie had also opposed the move, with the latter calling the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to probe the deal.
Proposal may be shelved, not dropped altogether
Yesterday, Tengku Zafrul announced that the Government has no plans to sell the Subang airport or any other airport properties to any party.
The Transport Ministry (MOT) also issued a statement yesterday confirming the matter, saying no decision has been on the matter.
“I would like to advise all parties to not spread false news and rumours about this (sale of the Subang airport), and the Government will not hesitate to take appropriate action against the parties that do so,” The Edge reported Tengku Zafrul as saying.
Unimpressed with the finance minister’s warning, Shafie shot back saying that unions were undeterred by such attempts to silence legitimate criticism.
“If you’re so worried about fake news, why take three long months before addressing the matter to the public?
“And why was Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong quiet about this? He was talking about everything else except this proposed takeover,” he stated.
On that note, Shafie urged Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) unions to keep tabs on the matter, adding the proposal may have been shelved momentarily due to public outcry.
“They already have the blueprint for this. So, I have asked MAHB Workers’ Union (KESMA) chairman Hussin Shahar to keep an eye in case the proposal resurfaces in the future,” Shafie remarked. – June 26, 2021
