US Embassy denies PAS chief Abdul Hadi Awang’s claim that Washington once offered to help topple Malaysia’s government
PETALING JAYA: The United States has never sought to determine who leads Malaysia, the US Embassy said today, rejecting a claim by PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang that Washington had once offered to help topple the government.
US charge d’affaires David H. Gamble Jr said any suggestion that the United States had attempted to influence Malaysia’s political leadership was false.
“The United States has never sought to decide Malaysia’s political leadership. Any account to the contrary is false,” he said in a statement.
The statement came after Abdul Hadi claimed the US had offered assistance to bring down the then Barisan Nasional-led government and take over the administration.
Speaking at PAS’ 72nd annual muktamar in Kota Bharu recently, Abdul Hadi said the alleged approach took place during former US president Barack Obama’s visit to Malaysia in 2014, when several PAS leaders were invited to a meeting at the US Embassy.
He claimed the meeting was attended by Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who was his political secretary at the time, and Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, then an assistant secretary-general of PAS.
According to Abdul Hadi, both men rejected the alleged offer and remained committed to the party’s position.
“America was willing to help. Thankfully, both our people remained steadfast and were not influenced,” he said.
Abdul Hadi also claimed that the US ambassador subsequently requested a meeting with him and asked who PAS wanted to become prime minister.
He said he responded by questioning why Washington should have a say in Malaysia’s choice of leader.
“Who does America agree with?” he recalled asking.
Abdul Hadi said he later recounted the episode to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who, according to him, praised his stance against foreign interference.
He said the question of who would become prime minister should not overshadow the more pressing need to resolve political divisions and crises within Malaysia.
“What is important is that we do our work. We resolve the divisions, resolve the crisis. Go back and work, carry out our duties,” he said.
The US Embassy’s statement directly disputes Abdul Hadi’s account of the alleged 2014 approach but did not provide further details on the circumstances surrounding his claim.
