PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has fired a salvo at the Opposition over the Malaysian Airport Berhad’s (MAHB) share deal with Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), saying he does not understand the Opposition’s claim that GIP will take over the airport.
Anwar, who was speaking at his monthly gathering with the Prime Minister’s Department on Monday (July 1), reasserted that Khazanah Nasional Berhad and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) remain the major shareholders in the MAHB-GIP deal.
“Before this, Khazanah and EPF had a 41% share but with the transition, 70% of the shares will belong to Khazanah and EPF,” he stated.
“The Opposition argues that even with 30% they (GIP) can take over (the airport). I don’t know how they count.”
The MAHB controversy came about when Khazanah, EPF, GIP and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) – via a consortium named Gateway Development Alliance Sdn Bhd (GDA) – on May 15 announced a pre-conditional voluntary offer to acquire all remaining 1.12 billion shares in MAHB not already owned by the Consortium, at an offer price of RM11.00 per share which is an equivalent of RM18.4 bil.
Upon completion of the offer, MAHB will be wholly owned by GDA, which will be 40% owned by Khazanah, 30% by EPF, and the remaining 30% by GIP Aurea Pte Ltd.
GIP Aurea is 83.33% owned by GIP and 16.67% owned by ADIA. This would give GIP an effective 25% stake in GDA, while ADIA would hold a 5% share in the private entity that wholly owns MAHB.
The deal was criticised by Opposition politicians after it emerged that GIP is in talks to be sold to BlackRock, a firm that is reported to have investments in Israel.
During the Prime Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on June 25, Anwar dismissed reports indicating the sale of MAHB saying no questions were raised on foreign parties acquiring MAHB.
Meanwhile, Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, also reminded everyone not to be “excessive” in discussing the polemic of the BlackRock issue, saying that any polemics related to the BlackRock issue could affect Malaysia’s interests as a developing country.
He said the presence of the giant investment company in Malaysia all this while had not hindered Malaysia’s stance in voicing out against the Israeli regime’s atrocities against the people of Gaza.
“History shows that compared to other countries, we (Malaysia) are among the clearest and firmest (in voicing out against Israel); don’t demand more than that. We are a developing country; look at our level of capability. Don’t let a strong desire to show off undermine the country’s interests. That is our principle in general,” he remarked.
“… and the cruelty Israel committed against Palestine is very clear; no one is disputing it. (But) if there is a company like Microsoft or Google showing sympathy towards Israel, we will oppose it. (However) do you think we should close all paths and cooperation with them?” – July 1, 2024
Main pic credit: Bernama
