US has never sought to decide Malaysia’s political leadership: Embassy

The United States has never sought to decide Malaysia’s political leadership, said US Embassy in Malaysia Chargé d’Affaires ad interim David H. Gamble Jr.

“Any account to the contrary is false,” he said in a statement posted on the embassy’s official Facebook page on Sunday.

The brief statement came a day after PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang alleged that US representatives had once offered to help the party bring down the then Barisan Nasional government and take over the administration.

Abdul Hadi made the allegation during his winding-up speech at the 72nd PAS Annual Muktamar in Kota Bharu yesterday.

He claimed that the matter arose when PAS was part of the former Pakatan Rakyat coalition, during then US President Barack Obama’s visit to Malaysia in 2014, and also alleged that a US ambassador later sought a meeting with him and asked who PAS proposed as prime minister.

Meanwhile, PKR deputy secretary-general Sivamalar Genapathy has urged Abdul Hadi to provide evidence to back up the allegation or withdraw it and apologise, as it concerns foreign interference, national security and the country’s sovereignty.

“The US Embassy has now issued a categorical denial, stating that the United States has never sought to determine Malaysia’s political leadership and that any account to the contrary is false. We are therefore faced with two directly conflicting accounts. Who is telling the truth?” she said in a Facebook post.

Sivamalar, who is also a member of the PKR Central Leadership Council, said Abdul Hadi should reveal the identity of the US official who allegedly made the offer, the nature of the assistance offered, who was present at the time, and whether there were any records, communications or witnesses to substantiate the claim.

She also questioned why the matter had remained undisclosed for about 12 years and whether PAS had ever reported it to the police, the Foreign Ministry, the National Security Council or the government at the time.

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“This is not about defending the United States. This is about defending Malaysia. If a foreign power genuinely attempted to interfere in our political process, the matter must be investigated and appropriate action taken.

“Conversely, if such an extraordinary allegation cannot be substantiated, making it against a foreign government is equally irresponsible and risks damaging Malaysia’s diplomatic relations and international credibility,” she said.

Sivamalar also called on the authorities to examine the matter and urged Abdul Hadi to extend full cooperation by providing all evidence in his possession.

“An allegation of this magnitude cannot end as political rhetoric. Prove it, or withdraw the allegation and apologise,” she said.