KUALA LUMPUR – An opposition MP has doubled down on his statement in Dewan Rakyat that Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) is already a subsidiary of BlackRock Inc, which led to a back-and-forth between himself and a government backbencher.
While debating the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam)’s Annual Report and Financial Statement for 2021 and 2022 in the lower house, Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (Sik-PN) said GIP, which is to take up equity in Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad (MAHB), is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the US-based global investment firm.
For the record, GIP’s acquisition by BlackRock will only be complete in the third quarter of this year.
Ahmad said that the “acquisition” by BlackRock, which funds weapon-makers supplying arms to Israel, contradicts Malaysia’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, having declared its commitment to the human rights of Palestinians.
The PAS MP’s statement drew the interjection from Howard Lee Chuan How (PH-Ipoh Timor), who said that Ahmad’s statement was untrue.
“Please fix your facts and don’t simply ‘sell’ any narrative. (You) need to check your facts. What you said is wrong. Can you correct it?” asked the DAP lawmaker.
In response, Ahmad said: “What is right (is that) MAHB has sold its shares to GIP which is owned by BlackRock. This is clear.”
Lee then responded by saying that the opposition MP did not understand the matter.
“This is my concern, when you do not understand the issue and want to simply ‘sell’ a sentiment and incite hateful sentiments. This is what is happening in this honourable Dewan,” Lee added.
An argument then broke out between both MPs, which was stopped by Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Alice Lau, who told Lee to file a motion if he felt that Ahmad had misled the lower house.
GIP and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority are together taking up a 30% stake in MAHB through the consortium Gateway Development Alliance which is led by national sovereign fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
The two Malaysian entities will own the golden share in the consortium, which will be led by Malaysians.
These were among the strict conditions Khazanah had imposed, which were accepted by GIP, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said when explaining the MAHB deal that has come under intense criticism for links to BlackRock.
Last week, Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat that BlackRock and companies linked to the firm have assets worth RM27.5 billion in Malaysia, through the stock market and through investments in firms in various states such as Kelantan, Selangor, and Sarawak.
GIP had also said that BlackRock was not involved in the MAHB deal while Khazanah maintained that GIP would not be involved in the management of the airport operator, which will continue to be run by Malaysians. – July 1, 2024