US interference claim: 'One side may be lying' – Kamil Munim

LUMUT: PKR Youth has called for authorities to investigate claims by PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang that the United States offered assistance to topple the Barisan Nasional government under ex-PM Najib Razak. PKR Youth chief Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim stated that the discrepancy between Hadi's assertion and the US Embassy's denial warranted further investigation.

One side may be lying and this should be probed by the authorities, Kamil said after concluding the closing ceremony of the Malaysian Silat Seni Gayong Association's event. The PKR Youth leader, who is also the political secretary to the finance minister, emphasized that if true, prompt action must be taken as the matter involves an attempt to utilize a foreign power to undermine the government and parliamentary democracy.

He warned that if it is true, immediate action must be taken, as allowing any party to directly use an external power to undermine the system is unacceptable. PAS president Hadi mentioned during his final speech at the 72nd PAS Annual Muktamar that a US Embassy representative asked him about the party's proposed prime minister candidate during a meeting at the embassy, after two senior PAS leaders met the US ambassador.

Hadi claimed this occurred when PAS was still part of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition during US President Barack Obama's visit to Malaysia. The US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur denied any such attempt to influence Malaysia's political leadership, calling any suggestion false. US Chargé d'Affaires David H. Gamble Jr stated in a statement that the US has never sought to decide Malaysia's political leadership, and any contrary account is false.