PKR veteran Hassan calls for cancellation of MAHB deal following Hamas leader assassination
PASIR Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim has called on the government to cancel a controversial deal involving Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) in response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
The call for action comes amid heightened tensions and concerns over international business ties.
In a statement, the PKR member noted the importance of severing any form of cooperation with entities linked to what he referred to as the “Zionist regime”.
“At a time when the Malaysian community is mourning and saddened by Ismail’s death, it is appropriate for Malaysia to cancel the sale of the majority of the shares of MAHB, a strategic company in our country, to Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), which Blackrock controls,” he stated.
The ongoing controversy stems from the announcement on May 15 by Khazanah Nasional Bhd that the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and GIP, through GIP Aurea Pte Ltd, would form a consortium to acquire shares in MAHB.
The deal has faced criticism due to Blackrock’s perceived ties with Israel, raising concerns among various political and civil society groups.
If the deal proceeds, GIP would hold an effective 25% stake in MAHB, a significant strategic asset in Malaysia’s infrastructure landscape.
The assassination of Ismail occurred yesterday (July 31) in Tehran, Iran. News portal Al Jazeera reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed Ismail’s death alongside one of his bodyguards and announced an investigation into the incident.
Moreover, Hassan pointed out the global responsibility to uphold the International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision, which states that Israel’s settlement activities in Palestinian territories violate international law.
He stressed the importance of this decision to ensure that the sacrifices of Palestinians in Gaza are not forgotten.
“The decision, made on July 19 by court president Nawaf Salam, is important so that the deaths of the Palestinians in Gaza would not be in vain,” added Hassan.
“I call on the Malaysian government in particular to mobilise its dynamic international diplomatic initiatives towards the independence of a sovereign Palestinian state.”
Furthermore, the official position of the Malaysian government regarding the Palestine-Israel conflict is in favour of a two-state solution. This approach advocates for the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the two-state solution is a key diplomatic stance, aiming to bring about lasting peace and stability in the region. – FocusM Aug 1, 2024
