US rejects claim that it sought to influence Malaysian politics

The United States Embassy in Malaysia has rejected a claim that it once offered to help Parti Islam Se-Malaysia, or PAS, topple the Malaysian government.

In a statement posted on Facebook on Sunday, the embassy’s charge d’affaires, David H. Gamble Jr., said: “The United States has never sought to decide Malaysia’s political leadership. Any account to the contrary is false.”

The denial followed comments by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang at the party’s annual congress. Malaysian media reported that Hadi said the United States made the offer in 2014, around the time of former President Barack Obama’s visit to Malaysia.

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The United States has never sought to decide Malaysia’s political leadership. Any account to the contrary is false.

Hadi said several PAS leaders had been invited to a meeting at the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur while the party was still part of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition. PAS assistant secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan and Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, then Hadi’s political secretary, attended, according to the reports.

The Malay Mail reported that Hadi said embassy representatives discussed helping PAS topple and take over the government. He said party leaders rejected such foreign interference. Hadi also said the US ambassador at the time separately asked whom PAS would propose as prime minister if it took power. According to The Star, Hadi replied: “Who does America agree with?” He said Mahathir Mohamad approved of that response.

Takiyuddin confirmed that the meeting with embassy representatives took place. But, The New Straits Times reported, he said the discussion did not go beyond whether PAS had plans to topple the Barisan Nasional government. The party representatives did not say whether they intended to do so, he added.

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Who does America agree with?