KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today reassured that Malaysia would not lose control of its airports following a 30 percent share acquisition by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), countering claims from the Opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition. Anwar highlighted that Khazanah Nasional Berhad and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) would see their combined stake in Malaysia Airports Berhad (MAHB) increase to 70 percent, up from the current 41 percent, thus retaining majority control.
During his monthly assembly with staff at the Prime Minister’s Department, Anwar addressed the controversy which began in May when Khazanah announced a foreign consortium’s plan, involving the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and GIP, to acquire MAHB shares. The Opposition had raised concerns about national security and Malaysia’s transportation interests, citing GIP’s ties to BlackRock and its perceived connection to the Zionist government of Israel. However, Anwar dismissed these claims, questioning the Opposition’s arithmetic and assuring the public of Malaysia’s continued control over its airport operations.
