(Sept 6): The US rejected a claim by Malaysia’s opposition Islamist party that Washington once sought to influence the country’s choice of political leadership, calling the allegation false.

“The United States has never sought to decide Malaysia’s political leadership,” US Embassy in Malaysia Charge d’Affaires David H Gamble Jr said in a statement on X on Sunday. “Any account to the contrary is false.”

Parti Islam Se-Malaysia’s president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said at the Islamist party’s annual congress on Saturday that a US ambassador once asked the party, known as PAS, whom it would propose as prime minister if it took power.

Hadi said the meeting took place around the time of former President Barack Obama’s visit to Malaysia in 2014, when PAS was part of Pakatan Rakyat, an opposition alliance that was later dissolved. He said the then-US ambassador had requested to meet him, and he attended with former PAS secretary general Datuk Mustafa Ali.

According to Hadi, the ambassador asked: “Who does PAS propose as prime minister?”

The cleric said he responded: “Who does America agree with?” and it left the ambassador “stunned.” The remark drew laughter from delegates at PAS’ gathering in Kelantan state, which the party has ruled for decades.

Hadi said he later recounted the meeting to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who told him it was a “good response.”

Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, currently PAS’ secretary general, was also invited to a separate meeting with the US embassy then, he said at a briefing on Saturday. An embassy representative had asked whether PAS planned to topple the Barisan Nasional government at that time, according to him.

“We didn’t say anything as we don’t want any interference from another country,” Takiyuddin said.