KUALA LUMPUR: Any decision on whether to review the takeover offer of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) will only be made by the relevant parties since the offer is commercial in nature, according to the Finance Ministry (MOF).

In principle, MAHB's takeover offer is a commercial transaction submitted by a consortium led by its two existing shareholders, Khazanah Nasional Bhd and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

"The government will continue to monitor this development and ensure that whatever decisions are reached later must be made following the laws and regulations currently in force," the ministry said on the Parliament's website today in response to Ahmad Fadhli Shaari's (PN-Pasir Mas) question on the proposal to review the agreement between Khazanah and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).

Should the offer be accepted by other MAHB shareholders, Khazanah will own 40 per cent of MAHB and the EPF 30 per cent, while the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and GIP will hold the remaining 30 per cent of shares.

Responding to Chong Zhemin's (PH-Kampar) question on the rationale for privatising MAHB, the MOF said the consortium believed that privatisation was the best step to enable decisions and long-term investments to be made at a speedier pace.

Among the main areas the consortium will focus on are completing high-priority capital projects, improving passenger experience at all airports, airline collaborations, accelerating capital investment and developing side businesses around airports.

 - BERNAMA