US Embassy denies offering Malaysian Islamic party help to topple government during Obama visit

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: The United States Embassy in Malaysia has rejected a claim that it sought to influence Malaysia’s political leadership after PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang alleged that US representatives once offered to help the party topple the government.

In a statement posted on the embassy’s Facebook page on 6 September 2026, its charge d’affaires, David H Gamble Jr, said the United States had never sought to determine Malaysia’s political leadership.

“The United States has never sought to decide Malaysia’s political leadership. Any account to the contrary is false,” Gamble said.

The statement followed remarks by Hadi concerning an alleged meeting between PAS leaders and representatives of the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Alleged offer to PAS

According to Malaysian media reports, Hadi said the incident took place around the time of former US president Barack Obama’s visit to Malaysia, when several PAS leaders were invited to an event at the US Embassy.

Hadi said PAS was then part of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, which existed from April 2008 to June 2015.

He said PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan and Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who was his political secretary at the time, attended the meeting.

According to The Malay Mail, Hadi said US Embassy representatives raised the possibility of helping PAS topple and take over the government.

Hadi said the PAS representatives did not accept the alleged offer and were not influenced by it.

He also said the US ambassador to Malaysia at the time later requested a separate meeting with him, which Hadi attended with former PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali.

Question over prime minister

Hadi said the ambassador asked who PAS would propose as prime minister if it took over the government.

He said he responded by asking: “Who does America agree with?”

Hadi said the response left the ambassador taken aback.

He later told former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad about the encounter and said Mahathir approved of his response.

The two Obama visits to Malaysia took place in April 2014 and November 2015, during Najib Razak’s tenure as prime minister.

PAS account of the meeting

Takiyuddin subsequently confirmed that a meeting with representatives of the US Embassy had taken place, but gave a different account of what was discussed.

Takiyuddin said embassy representatives asked whether PAS had plans to topple the Barisan Nasional government at the time.

He said PAS representatives did not disclose whether the party intended to do so.

“We did not give any decision, and therefore we did not expect intervention from foreign countries,” Takiyuddin said.

He added that Malaysia’s political affairs should not be subject to foreign interference.

“If other parties want foreign intervention to topple the government, that is up to them. We did not,” he said.

Earlier political position

Hadi’s current remarks have also drawn attention to his position during the political dispute involving Najib and Mahathir.

In 2015, Hadi was reported to have urged Mahathir to stop efforts to remove Najib, saying any change of prime minister should take place through a democratic voting process.

The remarks were made in an interview with Channel News Asia after Hadi said Najib should be allowed to complete his term because he had been democratically elected.

Najib later began serving a prison sentence in August 2022 after the Federal Court upheld his conviction on seven charges involving abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering concerning RM42 million from SRC International.

Police reports lodged

The claims have also prompted calls for clarification and police reports.

At least three police reports were lodged over Hadi’s remarks. The reports were made by Bandar Tun Razak PKR branch vice-chief V. Jonathan, Bandar Tun Razak PKR Wanita chief Mazlina Osman and Bandar Tun Razak PKR Youth deputy chief Amarul Hisham Jalil at the Cheras police station.

Jonathan said the reports followed Hadi’s speech at the PAS Muktamar on 5 September 2026, according to a news portal.

He said Hadi had claimed that PAS leaders were invited to a meeting with the US Embassy during Obama’s visit to Malaysia in 2014, where US representatives allegedly offered assistance to topple the government.

Jonathan said the individuals reportedly involved included Takiyuddin, Samsuri and Mustafa Ali, alongside the US ambassador at the time.

He said the allegations were serious and that the reports were intended to allow claims involving attempts to overthrow or weaken the government and parliamentary democracy through unconstitutional means to be investigated according to law.

Cheras police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Rosdi Daud confirmed receiving a report at about 5pm on 5 September 2026. He said the report would be referred to the Wangsa Maju district police headquarters.

Calls for evidence

Kepong Member of Parliament and DAP Kuala Lumpur secretary Lim Lip Eng also called on Hadi to produce evidence supporting the allegation.

Lim said the allegation was serious and could not be substantiated merely through applause at the PAS Muktamar.

He also questioned whether Samsuri and Takiyuddin had informed Malaysian authorities about the alleged incident.

“I demand a clear answer. If a report was made, state when and to whom,” Lim said.

“If not, why was an alleged incident from 12 years ago not reported?”

Lim added: “Abdul Hadi has made the allegation. Now provide the evidence. National sovereignty is not a subject for political speeches.”