World · Malaysia Bureau
PAS chief says party rejected US overtures to unseat BN government
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has claimed the party spurned approaches from the United States aimed at toppling the then-ruling Barisan Nasional administration. Hadi said party colleagues Takiyuddin Hassan and Samsuri Mokhtar were present during discussions of the alleged offer.
LSN Malaysia ·
PAS supremo Abdul Hadi Awang has disclosed that the Islamist party received overtures from the United States to participate in efforts to remove the Barisan Nasional-led government from power, which PAS subsequently rejected.
Speaking at the PAS muktamar (general assembly), Hadi indicated that party vice-president Takiyuddin Hassan and another colleague Samsuri Mokhtar were present when the matter was raised during internal discussions.
The revelation comes amid broader scrutiny of foreign involvement in Malaysia's domestic politics during the tenure of the BN government under former prime minister Najib Razak. PAS has historically maintained its independence from external pressure while navigating complex political alliances within the country.
Hadi's account underscores the party's assertion that it has resisted external interference in Malaysian affairs, even as PAS has undergone significant shifts in its political positioning and coalition partnerships over recent years.
The disclosure adds context to discussions about foreign engagement with Malaysian political actors during a period of considerable political volatility in the country.