Speaking in Parliament today on the sale of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) shares to Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), he pointed out that Malaysia barred a ship belonging to Israeli-owned shipping company ZIM from docking in its waters in December.

“While we will not prevent any company from investing in our country, this does not apply to Israeli-owned companies,” Bernama reported him as saying during the special chamber session today.

On June 25, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the finance minister, stressed the importance of working with foreign firms for Malaysia’s development, including in the management of the country’s airports on a large scale.

“The government’s decision was to impose sanctions on trade with Israeli companies. Firms like Apple, Microsoft and Nvidia all have some Israeli interests. Should we cancel all trade with them?

“Although that may sound good to some people, it is not realistic. I’ve discussed the matter with Hamas leaders and they have no issues with (Malaysia working with these companies),” he said.

Anwar also explained why GIP was chosen to participate in the exercise to privatise MAHB, saying that according to Khazanah Nasional Bhd, only five out of 145 companies that applied to join the consortium seeking to take over MAHB were deemed suitable.

He refuted claims that GIP’s participation would pose a threat to national security, saying the airports would still belong to the government.

“National security issues fall under the government’s purview,” he added.