Kuala lumpur: The United States has never sought to decide Malaysia's political leadership, asserted US Embassy in Malaysia Charg© d'Affaires ad interim David H. Gamble Jr. in a recent statement. "Any account to the contrary is false," he stated, addressing allegations made by PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the statement was posted on the embassy's official Facebook page following Abdul Hadi's claims during his speech at the 72nd PAS Annual Muktamar in Kota Bharu. He alleged that US representatives had offered to assist PAS in toppling the then Barisan Nasional government during the former Pakatan Rakyat coalition era, which coincided with US President Barack Obama's visit to Malaysia in 2014. Abdul Hadi further alleged that a US ambassador had inquired about PAS's candidate for prime minister.
In response to these claims, PKR deputy secretary-general Sivamalar Genapathy urged Abdul Hadi to substantiate his allegations or retract them, citing concerns over foreign interference and national security. "The US Embassy has now issued a categorical denial. We are therefore faced with two directly conflicting accounts. Who is telling the truth?" she remarked on Facebook.
Sivamalar, a member of the PKR Central Leadership Council, pressed Abdul Hadi to disclose the identity of the US official involved, details of the alleged assistance, and any evidence or witnesses to support his claims. She questioned the 12-year delay in revealing the matter and whether it had been reported to relevant authorities at the time.
"This is not about defending the United States. This is about defending Malaysia," Sivamalar emphasized, noting the importance of investigating any genuine foreign interference or addressing the repercussions of unsubstantiated allegations. She called on authorities to investigate the matter and urged Abdul Hadi to cooperate fully by providing all evidence available.
"An allegation of this magnitude cannot end as political rhetoric. Prove it, or withdraw the allegation and apologise," she insisted.