Kuala Lumpur: Transport Minister Anthony Loke expressed hope that the privatisation of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) would be finalised soon. He voiced support for the corporate exercise proposed by the Gateway Development Alliance (GDA) and urged for a quicker pace in the process.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, as of January 8, GDA and its shareholders have received valid offer acceptances for 1.40 billion shares, representing 84.1 percent of the total issued shares in MAHB. Loke highlighted his dissatisfaction with previous delays in decision-making by the airport operator, particularly citing the aerotrain project as a significant example of public criticism. He emphasized that while he, as Transport Minister, is accountable for these issues, the responsibility lies with the MAHB board and management.
“We are not happy with the delayed decisions in the past. That’s why we believe this privatisation will help streamline processes, enabling faster implementation and greater accountability,” Loke stated during a press conference on Malaysia’s 2024 passenger and cargo traffic performance and the outlook for 2025. He noted that the decision to privatise MAHB was made by Khazanah Nasional Bhd, a major shareholder, alongside its consortium partners. Loke stated that this move would enable the company to respond more swiftly to industry demands and expand its capacity at a quicker pace.
The minister also pointed out that various ongoing projects, including capacity building at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), remain incomplete. He called for more efforts to upgrade infrastructure and enhance marketing initiatives to attract more airlines to Malaysia. Earlier, Loke mentioned that the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) forecasts Malaysia’s air passenger traffic to reach between 105.8 million and 112.9 million passengers this year. This year’s passenger traffic is anticipated to surpass the previous record of 109.3 million set in 2019, indicating an increase of 8.4-15.6 percent year-on-year, driven by a rise in airline seat capacity, increased demand for international travel, and overall improvements in household income levels.
Airlines are also expected to boost their capacity by 15.8 percent year-on-year in 2025, driven by a projected 21.1 percent growth in domestic travel. When asked about his satisfaction with the growth recorded, Loke responded, “Yes. But very happy, no.”