UMNO grassroots are expressing significant discontent with the government’s recent decisions to rationalise diesel subsidies and privatise Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), according to a party leader who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The source revealed that division leaders voiced their dissatisfaction at a closed-door event on Monday (July 1) meant to explain these policies. The grassroots feel that the diesel subsidy rationalisation, which took effect on June 10, should have been postponed.

“Even an Umno leader who has been very vocal in his support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says the diesel rationalisation should not have been carried out just yet,” Free Malaysia Today (FMT) quoted the source as saying.

The diesel subsidy in Peninsular Malaysia was lifted on June 10, with Putrajaya defending the move, arguing that replacing the broad-based subsidy with a more targeted mechanism will save the government RM4 bil annually.

Despite this, UMNO Youth chief Dr Akmal Salleh backed the rationalisation, noting that it was initially proposed by Barisan Nasional during its tenure.

“It’s clear (from the event on Monday) that the grassroots and the leadership do not share the same sentiments on this issue,” the source added.

The source also highlighted dissatisfaction among the grassroots regarding the proposal to privatise MAHB. Concerns have arisen due to the involvement of a firm with alleged ties to Israel.

Last month, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz defended the government’s decision to allow Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) to acquire shares in MAHB.

New York City-based investment firm BlackRock is in the process of acquiring GIP in a multi-billion dollar deal finalised earlier this year.

Critics of the MAHB privatisation plan including UMNO Youth, oppose GIP’s participation, accusing BlackRock of “profiteering from genocide” due to its stake in several US defence companies allegedly manufacturing weapons used by Israel.

UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated that the party’s stance aligns with Anwar, who has supported the privatisation exercise.

However, Zahid’s deputy, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, claimed that many UMNO ministers oppose the sale of shares to GIP, expressing hope that the deal would be reconsidered despite being in advanced stages.

Zahid dismissed Mohamad’s comments as his personal view. The source mentioned that a former federal minister also voiced opposition to the MAHB privatisation plans during Monday’s event.

The source warned that grassroots dissatisfaction over these two decisions could affect the unity coalition’s prospects in the upcoming Sungai Bakap and Nenggiri by-elections.

“Umno will be seen as compromised and incapable of defending the Malays. There is a possibility that these two issues would have an impact on Malay voters at the polls,” the source cautioned. - July 3, 2024

https://focusmalaysia.my/umno-grassroots-discontent-over-diesel-subsidy-rationalisation-mahb-privatisation/