TikTok removed KJ’s BlackRock posts, not us say Fahmi and MCMC

July 1, 2024

TikTok removed KJ’s BlackRock posts, not us say Fahmi and MCMC

PETALING JAYA: The government has denied involvement with the removal of several TikTok posts on BlackRock and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd by former minister Khairy Jamaluddin, with communications minister Fahmi Fadzil saying no instructions on the posts were given.

Fahmi told FMT that the communications ministry and the internet regulator, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, did not take any kind of action over Khairy’s postings.

“I confirm that there were no instructions from me or my deputy (Teo Nie Ching). And no action (was taken) by the MCMC too,” he said.

MCMC said the posts were removed by TikTok based on their community guidelines, and was entirely the social media platform’s decision. “The MCMC has no connection to these actions.”

Yesterday, Khairy posted a notice from TikTok regarding the removal of two video clips about the MAHB privatisation deal involving US-based investment firm BlackRock.

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He questioned the lack of transparency over the deal, and raised doubts about the foreign partner’s expertise in airport management as compared to MAHB.

The MAHB deal has faced significant scrutiny because of BlackRock’s alleged connections to Israel and its military. The company is acquiring another investment firm, Global Infrastructure Partners, which is involved in the MAHB deal.

GIP and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority are taking up a 30% stake in MAHB. The rest will be owned by national sovereign fund Khazanah Nasional (40%) and EPF (30%).

In Khairy’s first TikTok posting, he raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the deal, pointing out that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is also finance minister and chairman of Khazanah.

He quoted foreign minister Mohamad Hasan’s statement that the deal was “too advanced” for Cabinet members to effectively object, arguing that this went against the government’s pledge to ensure good governance.

In the second video, Khairy raised doubts about GIP’s expertise in airport management. He said in 2023, the four airports under GIP – London City, Gatwick, Edinburgh, and Sydney – collectively handled approximately 60 million passengers. In contrast, MAHB-owned airports handled around 119 million passengers last year.