KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 — Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) said its buyer BlackRock will not be involved in privatising Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) after criticism in Malaysia over the American firm’s alleged ties to Israel.
GIP, Khazanah Nasional Bhd and others are part of a consortium that has offered to take over MAHB in a privatisation deal that would value the operator at US$3.9 billion (RM18.3 billion).
The plan has come under criticism and protests from some Malaysian lawmakers over GIP’s ties to BlackRock’s significant investments in Israel.
MAHB’s planned privatisation is the latest focus on protests in Malaysia, following boycott campaigns against such Western brands as McDonald’s and Starbucks over the conflict in Gaza.
GIP said its existing leadership team will “retain full control and responsibility for the strategic direction and operation of GIP and the companies in which we have invested” after its acquisition by BlackRock, Bernama reported today, citing a written reply from GIP head of transport Phil Iley.
Iley said the firm would provide MAHB with as much operational support and assistance as needed despite being a minority shareholder.
“If we are successful with our transformation, we would very much consider relisting MAHB on the Malaysian stock exchange in the future,” he wrote.
Khazanah Nasional has said GIP would not hire staff to directly manage MAHB, while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has described claims that 25 per cent of MAHB would be owned by a pro-Zionist company as baseless, without naming the company, Bernama reported.
Under the deal, GIP and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority would own 30 per cent of MAHB, while the majority stake would be held by Khazanah Nasional and the Employees Provident Fund.
BlackRock’s US$12.5 billion acquisition of GIP is expected to be completed in the third quarter.
MAHB manages 39 airports across Malaysia and an international airport in Turkiye.
— Reuters
