Did HAMAS really tell Anwar that it is OK for Malaysia to have dealings with companies/brands that support the Israel Zionist regime or have dealings with Israel(including the supply of arms)?
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.facebook.com/InspirasiChannelz/videos/anwar-ibrahim-perjelaskan-isu-blackrock-mahb-di-parlimen-inspirasichannelz-inspi/1154793865636887/&ved=2ahUKEwiT96f9hoOHAxXzUGwGHayzAAQQtwJ6BAgMEAI&usg=AOvVaw2B5Jw3Cvb_8ZFHu0S5mEI6
# There are several postings of Anwar's statement on this particular point
Who exactly in HAMAS told Anwar that or gave the said impression to HAMAS? Does HAMAS speak for the Palestinian people?
Maybe, the Palestine ambassador to Malaysia Walid Abu Ali could tells us whether ANWAR spoke the truth or made a false representation. Anwar should not be criticized for his possibly 'misunderstanding about HAMAS's position - it can happen.
HOWEVER, What Hamas recently said seems to contradicts what Anwar said( see Media report below)
Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has called on Muslim countries to continue the economic and political boycott of the Israeli state and its backers, saying a global campaign had so far achieved "significant accomplishments in undermining the entity's economy, isolating it, and delegitimising it".
In a statement issued early today, Hamas said it fully supports the boycott efforts as part of a "comprehensive resistance against the Zionist enemy".
"Hamas also confirms that this is its firm and strategic position, and it has not changed, particularly in light of this brutal aggression against our people and the daily massacres committed against our people in the Gaza Strip.
"We call upon the peoples of our Arab and Islamic nations and the free people of the world to support all efforts leading to boycotting and isolating the entity and its backers," the statement reads.
Note also that BlackRock among scores of entities warned by UN experts to stop arms transfers to Israel...
Among the investors named include Bank of America, BlackRock, Capital Group, Causeway Capital Management,
Will HAMAS come out and confirm what Anwar told Parliament is TRUE? [Or will we have another situation where former PM Najib said that the Saudi Royalty gave him the RM2.6 Billion...?
IF HAMAS told our PM Anwar it is OK for Malaysia to continue to have relationship or dealings with companies/brands that support the Israel regime - then we have to wonder whether HAMAS is also against all the BOYCOTTS and actions against Brands that support Israel Regime in their attack, killing, injuring and destruction of property in Gaza and other parts of Palestine?
Then, we should be questioning whether HAMAS truly represents the people of Palestine? After all, the mandate received last was in the 2006 elections, and since then, there has been no elections.
At the 2006 legislative election, six parties and 4 independents won seats. Change and Reform (ie., Hamas) won 44.45% of the vote and 74 seats, while Fatah won 41.43% of the vote and 45 seats.So, should not Anwar be talking also to Fatah..?? Nobody knows who the people of Palestine support NOW - Hamas, Fatah or some other party?
Palestine ambassador to Malaysia Walid Abu Ali - Is Anwar Ibrahim talking to him. Maybe, he can confirm whether Palestine or was it just Hamas that said there is no problem for Malaysia to have dealings with Blackrock's now 100% owned GIP?
2 issues that should be noted?
a) BlackRock only acquired 100% of GIP only at end 2023 or January 2024. The discussions with GIP conducted with Malaysia was a different GIP, one that BlackRock did not own 100% or GIP. After the takeover by BlackRock - should Malaysia really continue with this agreement.
BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE: BLK) and Global Infrastructure Partners (“GIP”), a leading independent infrastructure fund manager, jointly announce that they have entered into an agreement for BlackRock to acquire GIP for total consideration of $3 billion of cash and approximately 12 million shares of BlackRock common stock.... Under the terms of the transaction, BlackRock will acquire 100% of the business and assets of GIP for total consideration of $3 billion in cash and approximately 12 million shares of BlackRock common stock. Blackrock Website, 12/1/2024
Question: When the trading on MAHB shares was suspended on 15/5/2024 - Khazanah Nasional Bhd and Employees Provident Fund (EPF) hold 33.2 per cent and 7.0 per cent of MAHB, respectively. That means that the rest of the shares are owned by individuals and others, Malaysians and maybe also foreigners.
Does this mean that MAHB is going to buy back the shares from all other owners - and then hand over 30% of the shares to GIP, etc - and Khazanah and EPF will acquire more shares? Is the Malaysian government going to come out with the monies for these transactions?
Why exactly is the government probably buying the shares from existing shareholders? Will they get more from Blackrock? PM and still FINANCE Minister should explain.
It is a SHOCKING REVELATION that the government vide Khazanah and EPF only owns about 40% of the shares? Should not the government or government bodies/agencies have at least 51% shares in airports - you need that at least to still have control of any company.
Is Khazanah and EPF also buying shares from existing shareholders at market value or higher price.
If money is the problem - issue more shares and get more money?
If want other companies and agencies in Malaysia to invest in MAHB - just ask and I am sure that some Malaysian companies will comply (This question asked in Parliament but Anwar may have not given an answer)
What is Malaysia's position on Israel-Palestine issue? Sadly, it Anwar's and the government's position may be changing - it may become very different from Malaysians in General.
Note the government allowed arm suppliers of Israel army to participate in an exhibition in Malaysia. When this was highlighted, the government did not ask the said companies to leave. Now, we have this giving part of our Malaysian Airports to Blackrock.
Most Malaysians are angry with the Israeli Zionist government, especially now after October 2023 when we see Israel continuously killing Palestinians, etc(still ongoing). Israel has not even complied with the International Court's order to stop killing...
Just like Blackrock suddenly acquired 100% of GIP at the end of 2023, any other company faces similar risks - What happens Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or some Israel state-linked company takes over a company, or even buys shares on Malaysian sharemarket? Should Malaysia enact a law preventing Israeli PM, or leaders in Israel government/armed forces and Israeli linked-companies from buying shares in the Malaysian share market?
Should there be a law prohibiting foreign companies from selling of their shares/stock to Israeli PM, or leaders in Israel government/armed forces and Israeli linked-companies? The moment this happens, the agreement should be terminated - make a Law.
Now, we give 30% of MAHB to GIP - what happens if Netanyahu or some Israel GLC acquires GIP down the road. Then Israel will have 30% of MAHB - What happens then? Should we have needed laws enacted.
My position is that we have to condemn Israel, and ask Israel to withdraw back to the borders as per UN Resolution in 1947.[What is Anwar's position]
The United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine was a proposal by the United Nations, which recommended a partition of Mandatory Palestine at the end of the British Mandate. On 29 November 1947, the UN General Assembly adopted the Plan as Resolution 181 (II).[1] The resolution recommended the creation of independent Arab and Jewish States linked economically[2] and a Special International Regime for the city of Jerusalem and its surroundings.
To the disadvantage of the Palestinian people, Israel has been expanding its borders contrary to the UN Resolution, and the area belonging to the Palestinian people(Muslim, Christians and Jews have been shrinking. Remember, that there was never an Israel State before this.
We have to also condemn Israel friendly nation states, like US, who has used its VETO power to 'protect Israel'. If not for the US(and sometimes UK), reasonably the UN would have entered the conflict zone - a UN peacekeeping force that will protect the people of Gaza and Palestine, and push for the withdrawal of Israel back to its 1947 UN decided borders.
New areas occupied after a war - is still occupied territory. There is no justification for any State to claim such 'occupied territory' as their own.
The governments have options, beside the speaking out in the UN and other places. SANCTIONS is a form of action, and the US themselves have imposed their own sanctions on different states, and these sanctions are NOT UN Sanctions.
Besides stopping Israeli ships from entering Malaysian ports - Malaysia should also take actions against companies that support Israel - including those that supply arms that are used against the Palestinians, more at this period where killing and destruction is still ongoing.
Malaysia may not know of arm-supplying to Israel companies at the exhibition > but when this matter was highlighted, the government should have immediately asked them to leave.
Now, since Blackrock has acquired GIP at end 2023(or early 2024), Malaysia must review this deal - and find other options for Blackrock. (Remember things have changed since October 2023 and still ongoing..). If at an earlier time or another time, Malaysia may be more open to companies like Blackrock - but not NOW.
In this time, there is an ongoing protest against BlackRock
Remember, our anger is with the Zionist Israeli government - not all Jews and not all Israelis, for many of them are also standing against the Israeli government actions against Palestinians.
PM Anwar and the government had a WAY-OUT - The moment they got news the GIP had NEW owners, being BlackRock, Malaysia should have STOPPED the dealings with GIP. It is the shareholders or OWNERS that decide everything a company does - it is rather foolish to think that the GIP(the company) can do anything against the wishes of its owners(shareholders). The old owners are gone - the new owners are here.
Anwar need to understand this - the agreement was with GIP - but end of 2023(early 2024) BlackRock said it acquired 100% of GIP. Hence, he is wrong in believing and saying that GIP will retain full control - hello, things have changed GIP is now BlackRock. LIFT the Corporate Veil - and see. If Anwar is talking about the 'employees' - the new owners, GIP will now decide anything and everything that GIP does...
During the prime minister's question time in Dewan Rakyat, Anwar said despite BlackRock acquiring GIP, the management of GIP will retain full control and responsibility over the strategic direction of the company and the companies it invested in.
The current market value of BlackRock's investments in Malaysia amounts to RM27.5 billion, with RM20.5 in Bursa Malaysia, and RM7 billion in Malaysian government and corporate bonds.
Anwar foolish belief that '...despite BlackRock acquiring GIP, the management of GIP will retain full control and responsibility over the strategic direction of the company and the companies it invested in...' is wrong. Management are mere employees, and they do what the owners say.
Anwar's lack of basic knowledge on how a company operates is good reason why he should RESIGN as Finance Minister immediately.
In defence of continuing dealings of now BlackRock controlled GIP, Anwar's reasons are lame. Before BlackRock was not identified as a supporter of Israel regime that oppresses the people of of Palestine. Now, they have been even by UN Special Experts led by the UN Working Group on Business
and Human Rights. There are on-going protests against BlackRock now for its 'support' of the Israeli regime. So, the past dealings are IRRELEVANT and not an excuse for continued dealings with BlackRock.
The fact that Malaysia had previous dealing with BlackRock, and BlackRock have RM27.5 billion in shares and government/corporate bonds is NOT THE ISSUE.
The Issue is that Malaysia is NOW entering into deal with BlackRock's GIP when the killing continues,
Now after even the UN Special Experts have specifically named BlackRock when warning governments, arms manufacturers and investors that they could be held accountable for war crimes.
....a statement today by more than 30 experts and special rapporteurs led by Robert McCorquodale, a member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights.
The statement also warns financial institutions investing in the arms companies involved in supplying weapons to Israel.
Among the investors named include Bank of America, BlackRock, Capital Group, Causeway Capital Management, Citigroup, Fidelity Management & Research, JP Morgan Chase, Harris Associates, Morgan Stanley and The Vanguard Group.
"Failure to prevent or mitigate their business relationships with these arms manufacturers transferring arms to Israel could move from being directly linked to human rights abuses to contributing to them, with repercussions for complicity in potential atrocity crimes," the experts said.
Hence, if Anwar and Malaysia continues this deal to handover part of MAHB to now BlackRock owned GIP - Malaysia may also 'be held accountable for war
crimes' committed by Israel against the Palestinian people...'. Shareholders/owners make money from their companies - will the money of GIP not flow to Israel, to support acquisition of arms...
I do not want this, and that is why I urge that PM Anwar and Malaysia drop GIP(wholly owned by BlackRock since end of the year) from the MAHB deal. Since, this acquisition of GIP just happened, there is good reason for Malaysia to drop GIP, an action that will be CONSISTENT WITH OUR SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE.
IF NOT, then it is time for Anwar to be removed as Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. Hope that the MPs in PH will stick to their original principles and values and do the right thing. We can always get another Prime Minister from PH itself.
However, the many PH MPs, who had previously been seen as good people by Malaysians who will bring REFORM may also see themselves facing the wrath of good Malaysians..
The recent statement of Anwar suggesting that people stop discussing this issue of BlackRock is shocking - does he now want to deny us of our FREEDOM of expression and Opinion, that too in Malaysia which is a DEMOCRACY.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today has cautioned against excessive discussion of BlackRock's investments in the country, warning of potential harm to Malaysia's national interests.
We really need a law to PREVENT Israel and its its agencies, leaders, etc from being able to BUY shares in Malaysia through the stock market - if not, Malaysian companies may end up inadvertently generating monies for Israel to continue its oppression of the Palestinian people.
See also earlier posts:-
Who and what started the recent 'killings' in Gaza?
Malaysia-Palestine similarities, Zionist Holocaust Against Palestinians, Right to Defend baseless? Anwar Ibrahim and Malaysia should do more?
Minister Nga - Opening Starbucks Outlet at the Ministry Despite Boycott Calls? "instigators" out to ruin domestic economy? Palestinian Cause forgotten by Malaysia?
Palestine-Israel, McDonald's, and what is the Malaysian position? What will Malaysia do?
Palestinian Crisis - Forgotten with the ceasefire? Fundamental HR violations in Palestine and the UN? Free and Fair Elections? Democracy?
Now, Anwar claims discussed with Hamas about Malaysia's dealings with Israeli-linked firms
The prime minister accuses those calling to cancel dealings with companies doing business with Israel of being 'more Hamas than Hamas'.
Anwar Ibrahim has made a startling claim that he had discussed the issue of Malaysia's business dealings with Israeli-linked companies with Palestinian resistance group Hamas, as the prime minister once again defended the controversial deal to bring a firm owned by US fund manager BlackRock into the national airport consortium.
He was responding in the Dewan Rakyat when asked by a government MP whether there would be any consequences if Putrajaya abandoned the plan to allow BlackRock firm Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) to take a 30% stake in Malaysia Airports Holdings (MAHB), which has sparked a storm of protest due to BlackRock's reputation as a Zionist-friendly company.
"The implications are serious. Firstly, the listing. That will be used against me.
"If a company has interests in Israel... Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, they all have interests in Israel. Should we stop dealing (with them)?" said Anwar.
In his criticism believed to be aimed at those calling on the government to cancel deals with companies accused of complicity in Israel's genocide, Anwar said: .
"It sounds good, it's nice for people to hear that we are great fighters. But it's not realistic.
"I have spoken to the leadership of Hamas, the question does not arise," he said.
"It's like being more Hamas than Hamas."
Perikatan Nasional's Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad then questioned the choice of GIP, saying the New York-based company has not proven to be a good airport operator.
He said the government should have turned to other companies that operate more successful airports in Asia.
In his response, Anwar, who is also chairman of Khazanah Nasional, said it chose GIP as its partner because other companies were not willing to join without a majority stake.
Yesterday, 22 civil society organisations called on Anwar to make "the right and conscionable decision" by cancelling the plan to sell MAHB's shares to GIP.
"The situation is straightforward and widely understood: a Zionist entity is conducting a settler-colonial and racist genocide in Gaza. To halt this atrocity, those opposing genocide must act collectively to disrupt the systems enabling such crimes against humanity," said the joint statement by prominent Muslim and pro-Palestinian groups.
The BlackRock issue has emerged as one of Anwar's greatest challenges since his appointment to the top post,and comes against a backdrop of a perception that he is more friendly with the US and Israel, with critics citing past statements including his interview with the Wall Street Journal in 2012 which quoted him as saying that he would "support all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel".
Anwar has taken pains to change this perception with speeches and
statements criticising Washington's support for Israel, in addition to
his attendance at meetings with global Muslim leaders in the wake of
Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza last year which has so far killed at
least 35,000 Palestinians. - Malaysian Now , 25/6/2024
Hamas calls on Muslim nations, Palestinian supporters to continue boycott of Israel and its backers
It comes amid outrage over the Malaysian government's move to push ahead with a deal involving controversial US firm BlackRock.
Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has called on Muslim countries to continue the economic and political boycott of the Israeli state and its backers, saying a global campaign had so far achieved "significant accomplishments in undermining the entity's economy, isolating it, and delegitimising it".
In a statement issued early today, Hamas said it fully supports the boycott efforts as part of a "comprehensive resistance against the Zionist enemy".
"Hamas also confirms that this is its firm and strategic position, and it has not changed, particularly in light of this brutal aggression against our people and the daily massacres committed against our people in the Gaza Strip.
"We call upon the peoples of our Arab and Islamic nations and the free people of the world to support all efforts leading to boycotting and isolating the entity and its backers," the statement reads.
Since Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip last October, products and companies seen as strengthening the Israeli economy and war machine have been the target of a worldwide boycott campaign.
Among groups leading the campaign is Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS), an international movement that organises the boycott of companies, brands and academic institutions that allegedly fund and support the Israeli regime, directly and indirectly.
Hamas' latest call to Muslim countries came amid a storm in Malaysia, where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has resisted pressure on his government to cancel a deal that would see a company owned by controversial US fund manager BlackRock become part of a consortium to manage the country's airports.
In his speech at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, Anwar also said it was not realistic for his government to sever ties with companies that do business with Israel.
He also claimed that even Hamas had no objections to his stance.
"It sounds good, it's nice for people to hear that we are great fighters. But it's not realistic.
"I have spoken to the leadership of Hamas, the question does not arise. It's like being more Hamas than Hamas," he said.
In response, Perikatan Nasional's Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad said Anwar had not only failed to convince Malaysians of the need for a foreign partner to run Malaysia Airports Holdings (MAHB), but his answers to critics were also misleading.
"For example, he said he had contacted the Hamas leadership and painted a picture as if Hamas leaders had no problem doing business with BlackRock by owning the country's strategic assets. I don't understand why the prime minister has to resort to this kind of name-dropping," he said.
Under the deal announced last month, BlackRock-owned Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) will take a 30% stake in MAHB, alongside the government's investment arm Khazanah Nasional and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), both entities under the jurisdiction of the finance ministry led by Anwar.
The move sparked protests from civil society leaders and pro-Palestinian groups who demanded the government to cancel the deal in view of allegations of BlackRock's complicity in Israel's genocidal campaign in Gaza, which has so far killed at least 35,000 people.
Last week, a group of United Nations experts in a joint statement named BlackRock alongside dozens of companies, arms manufacturers and financial institutions, warning them against supplying arms to Israel as they would be complicit in war crimes and genocide.
“These companies, by sending weapons, parts, components, and ammunition to Israeli forces, risk being complicit in serious violations of international human rights and international humanitarian laws,” said more than 30 experts and special rapporteurs led by Robert McCorquodale, a member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights.
The BlackRock issue has emerged as one of Anwar's greatest challenges
since his appointment to the top post,and comes against a backdrop of a
perception that he is more friendly with the US and Israel, with
critics citing past statements including his interview with the Wall
Street Journal in 2012 which quoted him as saying that he would "support
all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel". - Malaysia Now, 26/6/2024
BlackRock among scores of entities warned by UN experts to stop arms transfers to Israel
More than 30 UN experts and special rapporteurs warn governments, arms manufacturers and investors that they could be held accountable for war crimes.
A group of United Nations experts has named BlackRock among dozens of entities, weapon manufacturers and financial institutions in a joint statement warning them not to engage in arms transfers to Israel as they would be complicit in war crimes and genocide.
They named the arms manufacturers supplying Israel – BAE Systems, Boeing, Caterpillar, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Oshkosh, Rheinmetall AG, Rolls-Royce Power Systems, RTX and ThyssenKrupp – and called on them to stop deliveries, even if they are made under existing export licences.
“These companies, by sending weapons, parts, components, and ammunition to Israeli forces, risk being complicit in serious violations of international human rights and international humanitarian laws,” reads a statement today by more than 30 experts and special rapporteurs led by Robert McCorquodale, a member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights.
The statement also warns financial institutions investing in the arms companies involved in supplying weapons to Israel.
Among the investors named include Bank of America, BlackRock, Capital Group, Causeway Capital Management, Citigroup, Fidelity Management & Research, JP Morgan Chase, Harris Associates, Morgan Stanley and The Vanguard Group.
"Failure to prevent or mitigate their business relationships with these arms manufacturers transferring arms to Israel could move from being directly linked to human rights abuses to contributing to them, with repercussions for complicity in potential atrocity crimes," the experts said.
They said the risk of being accused of complicity in war crimes has been further increased by the recent decision of the International Court of Justice ordering Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah, as well as the move by the International Criminal Court to seek arrest warrants for Israeli leaders.
"In this context, continuing arms transfers to Israel may be seen as knowingly providing assistance for operations that contravene international human rights and international humanitarian laws and may result in profit from such assistance."
The Israeli attack on Gaza was characterised by "indiscriminate and disproportionate" attacks on civilians and infrastructure, killing more than 37,000 people and injuring 84,000, the statement added.
"Today, children in Gaza are the largest group of amputee children in the world due to grave injuries sustained in the war." - Malaysia Now, 21/6/2024
November 9, 2023 – Today, as part of an internationally coordinated day of disruption for Palestine, we, a group of activists and people of conscience, are shutting down BlackRock.
BlackRock is a New York City-based investment company that has massive investments in Israel and in companies including Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and General Dynamics that make the weapons Israel uses to murder Palestinians. BlackRock invests in companies that arm the Israeli war machine!
Its CEO, Larry Fink, is also an outspoken supporter of the apartheid regime in Israel and is cheering on a regional war. When the Biden administration deployed a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to the region last month to threaten war against Iran, Fink called it “a spectacular statement by the United States.”
We have gathered at the company’s headquarters on 50 Hudson Yards, to demand BlackRock end its complicity in Israel’s genocidal violence against Palestinians. We demand a ceasefire now, an end to all aid to Israel, and an end to the 16-year siege on Gaza.
“BlackRock has blood on its hands! We refuse to be silent while it invests and profits from Israeli genocide and occupation. We will remind them of the over 10,000 Palestinians whose lives have been tragically cut short thanks to the companies that BlackRock invests in,” said Layan Fuleihan of the People’s Forum.
“We are joining people from across the globe in disrupting business
as usual for companies like BlackRock. Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the
day-to-day oppression of Israel’s apartheid system is enabled by
massive corporations like BlackRock, that rake in huge profits while
Palestinians suffer and die.” ANSWER Coalition Executive Director Brian Becker said. - People's Forum Website, 9/11/2023
No comments:
Post a Comment