ASTANA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has rubbished as baseless the allegations that 25% of the shares of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) would be owned by a pro-Zionist company.
He said the allegations raised by the Opposition were aimed at inciting hatred towards the government.
“... there is nothing positive from them, only inciting hatred and envy. All of our statements that have been recognised by the world, including the meeting with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, do not bring anything positive to them, what is sought is slander and incitement.
“The strengthening of the ringgit and stock market only hurts the feelings of the Opposition,” Bernama quoted Anwar as saying at a press conference on the last day of his two-day official visit to Kazakhstan here yesterday.
In a statement earlier yesterday, Perikatan Nasional Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden claimed the plan to privatise MAHB was via a consortium that includes New York-based investment fund Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), which has links to Israel.
He added that GIP is owned by global fund manager BlackRock Inc, which he claimed holds stakes in various arms companies supplying weapons to Israel.
“BlackRock (is linked to) companies supplying weapons that enable Israel to continue perpetrating genocide upon the Palestinian people.
“Any company that is pro-Israel should not be given space in Malaysia, especially strategic assets like the airport,” Afnan Hamimi said.
He said Malaysia has been clear and firm in its stance never to normalise any form of relationship with Israel.
He added that they demand an explanation, especially from the government.
“It is pointless to be loud on the international stage if we are doing something different (at home),” he said.
Attempts to contact MAHB on the matter are ongoing.
A consortium led by Khazanah Nasional Bhd and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) recently proposed to privatise MAHB at RM11 per share in a deal valued at over RM12bil.
Khazanah and EPF are teaming up with GIP and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority to form the consortium.
GIP, acquired by BlackRock earlier this year, is one of the world’s premier infrastructure investors and an experienced airport owner and manager.
According to several reports, BlackRock owns substantial shares in weapons companies such as Smith & Wesson Brands, Sturm, Ruger & Co, Ammo Inc and Vista Outdoors.
