Hadi’s US meddling claim can hurt PN’s ‘govt-in-waiting’ image, say analysts
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's claim that the US attempted to topple the Malaysian government in 2014 has drawn skepticism from analysts. Experts suggest the rhetoric is unlikely to damage US-Malaysia relations but may harm the political credibility of the Perikatan Nasional coalition.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the tension between domestic political posturing and the necessity of maintaining stable international economic relations.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had claimed that the party was offered assistance by the US embassy to topple the BN government in 2014, during former president Barack Obama’s visit to Malaysia the same year.
PETALING JAYA: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s claim of US interference is unlikely to damage ties with Washington but could raise concerns over Perikatan Nasional’s credibility as a government-in-waiting, say analysts.
Asrul Hadi, an associate vice-president at The Asia Group, said PAS needed to support serious allegations with solid evidence and exercise greater discipline in its foreign policy rhetoric if it wanted to position itself as a viable alternative government.
While Hadi’s message may have been intended primarily for domestic political consumption, he said its repercussions could extend beyond Malaysia’s borders.
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