PUTRAYAJAYA – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s meeting with BlackRock in 2018 was done under different circumstances, with the former prime minister stating there was no large-scale genocide of the Palestinian people at that time.
Speaking to the press at the Perdana Leadership Foundation building today, he also acknowledged that the oppression of the Palestinians by Israel had existed for decades, noting that he discussed this issue with BlackRock officials when he met them in 2018.
“The oppression of Palestinians was ongoing, but it wasn’t as serious as killing people.
“Today, they are sometimes killing 100 Palestinians a day.
“Genocide is taking place, and policies must change according to what’s happening on the ground,” Dr Mahathir said.
When asked about his meeting with BlackRock in 2018, the two-time former prime minister explained that it was merely to gauge whether the organisation had anything to contribute to Malaysia, adding that no agreement was reached at that time.
Yesterday, based on previous social media posts, the media reported on Dr Mahathir’s meeting with BlackRock in 2018 in London, highlighting his efforts to present investment opportunities in Malaysia to the New York-based company, which has been accused of supporting the genocide by Israel against Palestinians.
In 2018, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict witnessed a notable increase in violence and tension, highlighted by a significant number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces, particularly during protests on the Gaza border.
On March 30, 2018, Palestinians in Gaza initiated the “Great March of Return” protests, with thousands gathering near the Gaza-Israel border fence to demand the right of return for Palestinian refugees.
Israeli forces responded with deadly force, killing at least 220 Palestinians and wounding over 18,000 by the end of the year.
In recent times, following the 2023 Israeli-Palestinian escalation, BlackRock made headlines in Malaysia due to its ownership stake in Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), which is acquiring equity in Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) as part of a privatisation exercise.
Facing backlash for involving BlackRock-linked companies in the MAHB deal, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim justified the decision, stating that avoiding engagement with Israel-linked companies could negatively impact Malaysia’s economy.
However, Dr Mahathir disagreed with Anwar’s reasoning, arguing that Malaysia had the capability to manage its own infrastructure without foreign interference.
“If our compromised economy is attributed to Israel, that’s not true.
“We need to strategise to address the challenge of reducing our dependence on Israel.
“We have our own capabilities and can adapt as needed,” Dr Mahathir said.
Yesterday, GIP’s head of transport, Philip Iley, said that BlackRock would not be involved in transactions relating to MAHB’s privatisation.
Iley said that although it was announced in January 2024 that GIP was being acquired by BlackRock, GIP’s existing leadership team would retain full control and responsibility for the strategic direction and operation of the company. – June 22, 2024