Tok Mat’s stand on MAHB is not Umno’s – Zahid

UMNO deputy president Mohamad Hasan’s statement on the sale of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd’s (MAHB) shares to a company linked to US asset management firm BlackRock is his personal view, says Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Umno president said the party’s position is consistent with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s stand on the privatisation exercise.

“I even spoke with (Mohamad) last night and he said it was his personal view.

“For Umno, it’s clear. Our stance on this matter is the same as the prime minister’s,” said the deputy prime minister at a press conference here.

Yesterday, Mohamad, also known as Tok Mat, said Umno ministers had pleaded with sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd against selling MAHB shares to Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).

The foreign minister also said the deal was not decided by the Cabinet, expressing hope that it could be reviewed despite already being at a “very advanced stage”.

Previously, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh had also called for the deal to be scrapped.

Meanwhile, Zahid said the Cabinet had discussed the matter several times before this, but not in detail.

However, he said, the matter was discussed in great detail during a meeting with government backbenchers ahead of the Dewan Rakyat meeting, which started today.

CNA recently reported that the government could no longer renege on the MAHB privatisation plan as a formal offer had been made.

Criticism of the deal broke out because GIP is to be acquired by BlackRock later this year. BlackRock has been accused of “profiteering from genocide” through its stakes in US defence firms that manufacture weapons allegedly used by Israel.

GIP has said BlackRock is not involved in the move to privatise MAHB, in which GIP and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority will have a 30% stake in MAHB, with Khazanah holding 40% and EPF 30%.

 

Pandangan Tok Mat adalah peribadi, kata Zahid

PRESIDEN UMNO, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi menjelaskan, kenyataan timbalannya, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan berhubung dakwaan penyertaan syarikat BlackRock Inc melalui Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) dalam penstrukturan semula kepentingan Malaysia Airport Holding Bhd. (MAHB) adalah bersifat peribadi dan bukan parti.
Sebaliknya, beliau menegaskan pendirian UMNO tetap bersama Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“Pendirian UMNO jelas, sama dengan pendirian yang dibuat oleh Perdana Menteri. Pendapat yang diberi oleh Tok Mat (Mohamad) adalah pendapat peribadi.
“Saya telah bertemu dengan beliau malam tadi dan menyatakan itu pandangan peribadi, bukan UMNO secara rasmi,” katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang media selepas merasmikan Program Karisma Pemikir Madani Kepimpinan Tertinggi Pentadbiran UiTM Seluruh Malaysia di sini, pada Isnin.
Ahmad Zahid menjelaskan, isu berkenaan ada dibincangkan dalam mesyuarat Kabinet, baru-baru ini.
“Ada dibawa (dalam mesyuarat Kabinet) tapi tidak dibincangkan secara terperinci seperti penjelasan semalam, tetapi pada (mesyuarat) pra-Kabinet baru dibincangkan secara terperinci kepada seluruh ahli Parlimen Dewan Rakyat dan juga Dewan Negara serta menteri dan timbalan menteri,” katanya.
Pada Ahad lalu, Mohamad Hasan mendakwa keputusan penjualan saham MAHB kepada GIP berkenaan tidak dibuat melalui Kabinet, namun masih mengharapkan ia dikaji semula.
Perdana Menteri sebelum ini menegaskan semua pihak tidak menjadikan isu penglibatan GIP dalam penstrukturan semula kepentingan dalam MAHB sebagai wayang politik untuk menghentam kerajaan membabitkan isu Palestin.
Malah katanya, beliau pada setiap masa bersikap keras dalam memperjuangkan nasib rakyat Palestin, namun pada masa yang sama tidak mahu melemahkan ekonomi Malaysia.
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