Civil society organisations say the US investment firm with alleged links to Israel should play no part in the management and ownership of Malaysia’s airports.
PETALING JAYA: Civil society organisations have urged the government to reconsider its decision to allow a company with alleged links to Israel to own shares in Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB).
In a statement, the 21 organisations said they are against the participation of American company BlackRock, through its fully owned subsidiary Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), in a consortium with Khazanah Nasional Bhd and EPF that will acquire all the shares in MAHB.
They said that although GIP and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (AIDA) will own only 30% of the consortium, it nevertheless allows BlackRock entry into the management and ownership of 39 airports in Malaysia.
“These are strategic assets to the country. No ownership should be handed over to a foreign entity, much less one that has a bloody reputation like BlackRock,” said the groups in a joint statement.
“The Malaysian government’s commendable support for the Palestinian cause will be seen to be merely hollow words, apart from allowing strategic and national assets such as our airports to be run by parties highly sympathetic to the Zionists.”
Among the groups which signed off on the statement are the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations (Mapim), BDS Malaysia, and Viva Palestina Malaysia.
The organisations also accused BlackRock, a New York City-based investment firm, of “profiteering from genocide” through its stakes in US defence companies which allegedly manufacture weapons used by Israel.
In January, BlackRock, one of the world’s largest asset management companies holding shares in several defence industry enterprises, agreed to acquire GIP.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the opposition was merely trying to incite hatred of the government by criticising GIP’s investment in MAHB.
Khazanah and EPF said on Wednesday they plan 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.