Hadi challenged to prove US meddling plot claim

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng has challenged Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang to present evidence backing his claim that the United States offered assistance to the party to overthrow Malaysia's government in 2014. Hadi stated, "Where is the evidence? Has a report been lodged or not?" in a statement. He emphasized that such a claim must be backed by evidence, asserting that national sovereignty is not campaign material.

Hadi made his allegations during Pas's 72nd Annual Muktamar, claiming a US embassy representative inquired about the party's proposed prime ministerial candidate, and that the US offered to help remove the government during former President Barack Obama's visit to Malaysia. Hadi added that Pas' Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan and Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar attended the meeting but rejected the offer.

Lim questioned why the incident, if true, was never reported to Malaysian authorities or the police. He urged the police to investigate, stating that if there was a plan to overthrow parliamentary democracy through violence or unconstitutional means, an offence under Section 124B of the Penal Code should be examined. Lim called for the police to reveal whether an investigation has been opened against Hadi and others, and under what laws, or to explain why there are no grounds for one.

Hadi's claim has been denied by the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur, with Charge d'Affaires David H. Gamble Jr stating that the US had never sought to determine Malaysia's political leadership and that any suggestion otherwise is false.