Pertemuan di kedutaan AS tidak patut dianggap campur tangan, kata Nazri

Former Malaysian ambassador to the United States Nazir Aziz has asserted that a 2014 meeting between PAS President Hadi Awang and the US embassy's deputy representative was not an instance of foreign meddling. Nazir, who served as Malaysia's ambassador to the US from 2023 to 2025, stated that diplomats typically engage in discussions with opposition leaders to understand the local political landscape, which is a common practice in diplomatic affairs.

He emphasized that such conversations, even if involving the US embassy and its ambassador, are merely discussions and not interference. Nazir suggested that if any party attempts to interfere in domestic affairs, it is more likely to involve foreign NGOs rather than the embassy. He speculated that foreign NGOs might have once viewed former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as an authoritarian, prompting them to approach opposition figures for discussions on democratic reform and political change.

This statement comes in response to US embassy's denial in Kuala Lumpur that they offered assistance to overthrow the government during former President Barack Obama's visit in 2014. Hadi's claim was made during the PAS 72nd Muktamar convention in Kelantan on Saturday. Three police reports have been filed against Hadi, and his office has informed that the Home Ministry has contacted him regarding the matter.

National Unity Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir also commented that the affair would not be probed by the combined team, but rather left to the public to decide.