Hadi’s US meddling claim can hurt PN’s ‘govt-in-waiting’ image, say analysts

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has accused the US embassy of attempting to overthrow the ruling Barisan Nasional government in 2014, during former President Barack Obama's visit to Malaysia. Analysts have stated that while this claim is unlikely to damage US-Malaysia relations, it may raise questions about Perikatan Nasional's credibility as a potential government.

Asrul Hadi, an associate vice-president at The Asia Group, emphasized that PAS must back serious allegations with solid evidence and maintain disciplined foreign policy rhetoric to position itself as a credible alternative government. However, the claim could still impact Malaysia's trade-dependent economy by affecting investor confidence and foreign relations.

Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Oh Ei Sun believed that Washington was experienced enough to distinguish between political rhetoric and actual foreign policy, so the claim was unlikely to cause significant repercussions for Malaysia-US ties. Despite this, the controversy remains a concern for foreign investors due to the potential implications a PAS-led government would have on investment.

University of Tasmania's James Chin noted that an investigation into Hadi's claim was unlikely to yield conclusive results, as the matter had become a "he said, she said" situation with no clear evidence available.