KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14- Price and timing are crucial factors in helping the government make decisions on the sale of government-linked companies (GLCs) such as Malaysia Airlines, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Idris Jala.
He also said today that MAS should not be sold at a loss and if anything, the airline should have been disposed off two years ago, when its share was being traded at RM6.20.
“We do not want to sell MAS at a loss. It should be sold based on the right price and at the right time, as it involves public money,” he added.
He said this while addressing a question from the audience on whether the government should consider exiting the airline industry, at the Global Malaysia Series talk here.
According to Idris, the government should be involved only in businesses for strategic reasons, such as in defence, infrastructure and the technology sectors, with a long gestation period.
He stressed that the role of government should be to facilitate rather than “interfere” with businesses.
“The government can help for instance, in the area of free trade agreements,” he said.
On the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), Idris said while there were objections, its signing would open doors to international markets.
“For the country to move from the middle to a high-income nation, there is a need for companies to go beyond the domestic market and improve on products and services, to gain acceptance on the global stage,” Idris added.
– BERNAMA
