Hadi recounts spurning US offer to topple Najib-led BN govt

PAS MUKTAMAR | PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang claimed that United States representatives once offered the Islamist party assistance to topple the then-BN administration.

In his winding-up speech at the 72nd PAS muktamar in Kota Bharu today, he said that the purported offer was extended during one of former US president Barack Obama’s visits to Malaysia when several PAS leaders were invited for an event at the US embassy here.

Noting that the matter had occurred when PAS was part of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, Hadi stated that party secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan and vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who were then his political secretaries, were also in attendance at the event.

“They (US representatives) wanted to hold a discussion (on) whether we were willing to topple the government (as) the American government was willing to offer their help,” Hadi recounted.

The Marang MP affirmed that while Takiyuddin and Samsuri had not been “influenced” by the offer, a US ambassador had requested to meet him.

Hadi said he had fulfilled the invitation together with former PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali.

“The US ambassador met us and asked us who we would suggest to be the prime minister. In return, I asked ‘who would the US agree to?’ He was baffled by my answer.

“When I told (former prime minister) (Dr) Mahathir Mohamad (about the meeting), he said ‘good’,” Hadi detailed.

Malaysiakini has reached out to the US Embassy for comments.

Both of Obama’s visits to Malaysia happened during Najib Abdul Razak’s premiership, who is currently imprisoned after being convicted in 2020 on seven charges involving abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering linked to RM42 million in SRC International funds.

‘Proposal fell through’

At a press conference following the conclusion of the muktamar today, Takiyuddin confirmed the purported US offer and elaborated on why the proposal did not pan out.

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“A representative from the US embassy asked us whether PAS was planning to bring down the BN government at that time.

“We did not give a decision (as) we do not expect interference from foreign countries. Our nation’s politics are our own.

“If other parties want foreign interference in bringing down (the government), that’s up to them - but not us,” the former minister said.

In 2015, Hadi reportedly said that Mahathir should cease his attempts to topple Najib, as such changes should be done via a democratic voting process.

His call, made via an interview with Channel News Asia, came after he said that Najib should be given a chance to finish his term as the prime minister, as he was democratically elected.

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