SHAH ALAM, Sept 6 — The United States (US) has rejected PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang’s claim that Washington had sought to influence Malaysia’s political leadership
US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur Chargé d’Affaires David H. Gamble Jr dismissed the claims stressing that any accounts that suggest otherwise were false.
“The United States has never sought to decide Malaysia’s political leadership. Any account to the contrary is false,” he said in a brief Facebook posting, today.
The post was shared at the embassy’s official Facebook page.
The statement came after Hadi claimed that US representatives had previously offered assistance to PAS to topple the then Barisan Nasional-led government and take over the administration.
Hadi made the claim during his winding-up speech at the 72nd PAS annual muktamar in Kota Bharu yesterday.
He said the alleged incident took place in 2014 during a visit by then US president Barack Obama to Malaysia.
He said several PAS leaders were invited to a meeting at the US Embassy, including Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan and Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who was his political secretary at the time.
According to Hadi, the US side had indicated that it was prepared to help bring down the government and take over the administration.
He also claimed that a US Embassy representative later asked him who PAS would propose as prime minister if the government were toppled.
Hadi said he questioned why the US should have a say in determining Malaysia’s next prime minister.
He also claimed that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir supported his stance against the foreign interference after recounting the incident to the former premier.
