THE memorandum protesting the planned acquisition of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) should have been sent to Khazanah Nasional Berhad and not to his ministry in Putrajaya, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
Loke told Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, who had delivered the memorandum earlier today (May 23) that the Transport Ministry only serves as a regulator for MAHB and is not involved in its business deals.
“Wan Fayhsal and his team are knocking at the wrong door and shouldn’t have sent the memorandum to the Transport Ministry,” Loke said at a press conference after a working visit at Wisma Monorail, Kuala Lumpur.
“I have mentioned this many times that the decision (on the MAHB deal) doesn’t come under my ministry’s purview. He should have gone to Khazanah.
“It’s regrettable that an MP doesn’t understand this. My advice to Wan Fayhsal is to find the correct address.”
Earlier today, about 30 anti-Israel activists, including Wan Fayhsal, held a demonstration in front of the Transport Ministry to protest against the sale of MAHB shares to Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).
The protestors, called the Palestine Solidarity Secretariat (SSP), submitted a memorandum of protest to a ministry representative, demanding the government cancel the shareholding acquisition process.
“What we are raising is not a partisan political issue. The government today is attacking the opposition because it cannot answer all the allegations and criticisms made by the SSP,” Wan Fayhsal was quoted as saying.
“The government has forgotten that it is not only the opposition, but Malaysians are objecting to the sale of shares.”
The group contended that GIP is owned by New York City-based investment firm BlackRock, which has alleged ties to Israel.
Khazanah and EPF previously announced that they planned to take over MAHB through a consortium and privatise the airport operator.
Khazanah will increase its ownership in MAHB from 33.2% to 40% and EPF from 7.9% to 30%, giving Malaysian investors a 70% stake in MAHB. Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and GIP will hold the remaining 30%. – May 23, 2024
