US envoy rejects Hadi’s claim it offered to help shape Malaysian govt leadership

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 — The US Embassy in Malaysia's Chargé d'Affaires ad interim, David H. Gamble Jr., has firmly rejected PAS President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang's claim that Washington offered assistance to topple Malaysia's government during former US President Barack Obama's visit in 2014. Gamble stated that the United States has never sought to determine Malaysia's political leadership, and any assertion to the contrary is false.

This denial came a day after Hadi alleged that PAS leaders were contacted by a foreign power at the US Embassy to overthrow the government during Obama's visit. Hadi claimed that several party members, including Assistant Secretary-General Takiyuddin Hassan and Assistant Political Secretary Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, attended the meeting, during which embassy representatives discussed helping PAS overthrow and take over the government.

However, the party leaders rejected any foreign interference, and Hadi recalled asking the Americans whom they supported as prime minister. Hadi later shared this story with former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who reportedly approved of his response. Takiyuddin later confirmed his attendance at the embassy meeting, stating that PAS had rejected foreign interference in Malaysia's politics, adding that the embassy representative had only asked if PAS intended to topple the Barisan Nasional (BN) government at the time.