PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang alleged at PAS’s 72nd Annual Muktamar congress on September 5, 2026, that during former US President Barack Obama’s 2014 visit to Malaysia, representatives from the US Embassy asked PAS leaders whom they would nominate as prime minister if PAS took power. Hadi also said the US side offered help to topple the Malaysian government at the time, which was led by Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat coalitions [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].

Hadi recounted the exchange, stating, "The ambassador asked, ‘Who does PAS propose as prime minister?’ I asked him back, ‘Who does America agree with?’" He reportedly shared this with former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who supported Hadi’s response [1, 2, 3].

Two other PAS leaders, Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan and Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, were also invited to meetings with US embassy officials where the possibility of toppling the government was discussed. Both have denied accepting any foreign interference in Malaysian politics [2, 3, 6].

The US Embassy in Malaysia, through Charge d’Affaires David Gamble Jr, strongly rejected all allegations. Gamble said, "The United States has never sought to decide Malaysia’s political leadership. Any account to the contrary is false." The embassy called the claims unfounded and misleading [1, 2, 7, 8, 3, 4].

Following Hadi’s statements, opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition members lodged three police reports in Kuala Lumpur on September 6 and 7, 2026, seeking investigation into the claims. The reports were filed by PKR members and prompted official police attention [9, 10, 5]. Hadi Awang is cooperating with authorities and has been informed of inquiries, though no date for his questioning has been set yet [10].

Opposition MPs, including Lim Lip Eng of Kepong, demanded Hadi produce evidence or retract the allegations. Lim said, "Hadi, where is the evidence? Has a report been lodged or not? National sovereignty is not campaign material" [6, 11]. PKR’s deputy secretary-general Sivamalar Genapathy urged Hadi to name the US official involved and questioned why the claims were not disclosed sooner [4].

PAS leadership criticized what they called Pakatan Harapan’s overreaction in filing police reports. PAS Information Chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari questioned, "What interest do they have in this issue? Why suddenly overreact and lodge a police report? Did the Pas president implicate anyone from PH in this matter? Not at all." PAS suggested legal avenues instead of police involvement [12].

The conflicting claims over whether the US sought to influence Malaysia’s political leadership in 2014 remain disputed. The US Embassy denies all such efforts, while PAS insists on the accuracy of Hadi’s account [1, 2, 7, 8, 3, 4].

The police investigations into the matter are ongoing, with no firm timetable announced for further action or interviews.