Hadi ready to face police over US ‘topple govt’ claim, says aide

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 — PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang is expected to speak with police over his claim that the United States attempted to aid in the removal of Malaysia's government prior to the 2018 general election, according to his political secretary Syahir Sulaiman. Berita Harian reported today that no specific date has been set for Hadi's statement to the authorities.

Syahir confirmed that Bukit Aman, Malaysia's federal police force, has reached out to the PAS leader and that he is prepared to fully cooperate with the investigation. The PAS president made the allegation during the 72nd PAS congress in Kelantan, where he claimed that several PAS leaders were invited to meet with US Embassy representatives during former President Barack Obama's visit to Malaysia in 2014.

However, the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has categorically denied these allegations, stating that its representatives never offered any assistance to PAS in attempting to remove the then-Barisan Nasional government. Chargé d'affaires ad interim David H. Gamble Jr emphasized that the United States had never sought to ascertain Malaysia's political leadership.