TikTok axes Khairy's clips commenting on MAHB-Blackrock scandal

• UPDATED 9.36PM | Added denial from Fahmi Fadzil.

Two clips of former Umno leader Khairy Jamaluddin discussing the controversy around Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) and Blackrock were removed by TikTok for allegedly violating the platform’s community guidelines.

A review of the removed clips from Khairy’s Keluar Sekejap podcast that were posted on other platforms did not indicate any inflammatory elements.

In one clip, Khairy questioned the lack of transparency between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the latter’s capacity as finance minister and the Khazanah Nasional chairperson in discussing the MAHB share sale plan with the cabinet.

He cited Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan’s remarks that the deal was too far “advanced” for ministers to effectively object to in the cabinet.

He said this did not reflect the current administration’s past emphasis on good governance during the 1MDB scandal.

Khazanah is leading a consortium that also consists of soon-to-be Blackrock subsidiary Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) to take over MAHB.

The deal has been under intense scrutiny due to Blackrock’s deep ties with Israel and its military.

Anwar said that cancelling deals with all Israeli-linked companies like Blackrock would hurt the economy.

GIP, which will own an effective 25 percent stake in MAHB if the deal succeeds, has said that Blackrock would not be involved in running the airport operator.

What expertise is GIP bringing?

In the second clip removed from TikTok, Khairy questioned whether GIP really had more expertise than MAHB in running airports.

He cited how four GIP airports - London City, Gatwick, Edinburgh, and Sydney - only handled around 60 million passengers in 2023, compared to around 119 million passengers that passed through MAHB airports.

Khairy posted about the TikTok takedowns on his Instagram page.

Malaysiakini is attempting to get comments from Keluar Sekejap and TikTok regarding the purported community violations.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, meanwhile, denied the posts were removed due to government interference.

“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 was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.

TikTok revealed in a report that between June and December 2023, the Malaysian government made the highest number of takedown requests to the platform.

Malaysia made 1,862 requests, followed by Australia which made 651 requests.

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