Wan Fayhsal’s motion to debate MAHB share sale rejected

Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said he will continue to push for the sale of MAHB shares to be discussed in the Dewan Rakyat. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal’s emergency motion to debate the government’s decision to sell shares in Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) to a company associated with US asset management firm BlackRock has been denied.

In a Facebook post, the Bersatu Youth chief uploaded a response from Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul dated today in which the latter said the motion does not meet the requirements of Standing Order 18(1) under which it was filed on June 18.

“Standing Order 18 does not provide any provisions for the proceedings to be adjourned to discuss such a motion,” Johari said.

Wan Fayhsal, who had previously filed similar motions under Standing Orders 27(1) and 27(3), said he would continue to press for the matter to be discussed in the Dewan Rakyat.

In the Facebook post, Wan Fayhsal said the issue should be discussed openly as it concerns the sale of national strategic assets.

Last week, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), which is set to own 30% of MAHB’s shares with the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, said BlackRock is not involved in the move to privatise MAHB.

This is despite BlackRock having acquired GIP in January.

Under the MAHB privatisation exercise through a consortium called the Gateway Development Alliance (GDA), the government will hold a 70% stake in MAHB through Khazanah Nasional Bhd (40%) and EPF (30%).

Several quarters have urged Putrajaya to scrap the deal due to GIP’s ties with BlackRock, which has been accused of “profiteering from genocide” through its stake in US defence firms that allegedly manufacture weapons used by Israel.

Investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz has since said that BlackRock is a public-listed company that is not owned by Israelis, while Khazanah said that GIP, as its consortium partner, would not have a hand in the management of MAHB when the deal is finalised.