PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim today said claims that 25% of the remaining shares of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) would be owned by a pro-Zionist company are baseless.

He said the allegations raised by the opposition were merely aimed at inciting hatred towards the government.

“There is nothing positive from them, only inciting hatred and envy,” he told a press conference on the last day of his two-day official visit to Kazakhstan on Friday, reports Bernama.

“All our statements that have been recognised by the world, including the meeting with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, do not bring anything positive to them.

“(So) what is sought is slander and incitement.

“The strengthening of the ringgit and stock market only hurts… the opposition,” he added.

Several quarters have objected to any sale of government assets to foreign parties, more so if these parties have Israeli links.

This is after a recent report that MAHB had received a takeover offer worth over RM2 billion from a consortium led by its major shareholder Khazanah Nasional Bhd and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

Khazanah and the EPF are teaming up with New York-based Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, in forming the consortium Gateway Development Alliance Sdn Bhd, to take MAHB private.

Malaysians on social media were quick to oppose to the link-up with  GIP, saying that it was partly owned by BlackRock, an American multinational investment company that is pro-Israel. – May 17, 2024.