PKR vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has issued a bold challenge to Perikatan Nasional, calling on them to shut down all Blackrock-linked factories in Kedah and Kelantan. Both these states are led by the opposition coalition.

He criticised the sudden politicisation of Blackrock’s involvement in Malaysia, pointing out that the issue was not contentious when PN was in power.

“I want to challenge any PN leader who asked that we refrain from having any dealings with Blackrock.

“They should quickly close down the factories and leave the workers jobless. Only then can we discuss,” Nik Nazmi (above) said during a Pakatan Harapan campaign rally in Sungai Bakap last night.

The natural resources and environmental sustainability minister’s remarks came as the government encountered objections to the planned takeover of Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) due to the Blackrock connection.

The deal raised concerns locally as Blackrock is in the midst of finalising its takeover of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), one of the investors in the consortium involved in the acquisition of MAHB shares.

Blackrock is a US firm with close ties to Israel and invests heavily in weapons manufacturers that provide arms to the Zionist regime.

However, GIP on Friday said that Blackrock would not be involved with MAHB, as the GIP management would still be fully in charge of the company.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim defended the deal, saying that Khazanah had been in talks with GIP even before Blackrock acquired the infrastructure investor.

He also said cutting ties with all Israeli-linked companies operating in Malaysia would hurt the economy.

The controversy intensified when Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal filed an emergency motion to the Dewan Rakyat, urging an immediate debate on the government’s decision to sell part of MAHB shares to GIP.

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