Calls grow to reject conservative figure Nick Adams as US ambassador to Malaysia
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American conservative figure Nick Adams, who was nominated as US ambassador to Malaysia, is facing opposition from Malaysians.
PHOTO: NICKADAMSINUS/X
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PETALING JAYA – More voices are urging the Malaysian government to reject the appointment of American conservative figure Nick Adams as the US ambassador to Malaysia.
In a statement on July 14, Mr Arief Izuadin from Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) Youth International Relations Bureau said the nomination of Mr Adams
“Such a rejection should not be misconstrued as hostility but rather seen as a necessary measure to safeguard the integrity of bilateral relations and ensure that diplomatic envoys can contribute constructively, in a manner aligned with the shared aspirations of both nations,” Mr Arief said.
He added that PKR Youth intends to submit a formal memorandum of protest to the US embassy, urging the appointment of a more moderate, respected and globally minded individual – one who will embody the spirit of mutual respect and cooperation that has long underpinned US-Malaysia relations.
Similarly, Selangor Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) Youth chief Mohamed Sukri Omar said in a statement that the government, through Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, should take a firm and clear stance against the nomination to protect the sensitivities of the people.
He added that the government should uphold the dignity of a nation consistently advocating for humanitarian issues, especially regarding Palestine.
“Nick Adams is not just a controversial figure. He openly spreads hatred towards Islam and supports the Zionist colonial regime without consideration,” Mr Omar said in a statement on July 14.
“He once pressured a restaurant in the United States to fire a waitress simply for wearing a ‘Free Palestine’ pin. This is an inhumane act that demonstrates extreme and hateful attitudes towards the oppressed Palestinian people’s struggle.”
Mr Omar said that Malaysia does not need a diplomatic representative who brings extremist and pro-Zionist ideologies, as it is a majority-Muslim country that upholds the principles of justice and solidarity with oppressed people.
“This appointment is an insult to the sensitivities of Malaysians. If the government remains silent or accepts this appointment, it will be seen as betraying the people’s firm stance in supporting the Palestinian cause,” he said.
“This is not just a diplomatic issue, but a matter of principle, dignity and the nation’s stance on humanitarian issues.”
Mr Mohamed Sukri said Malaysia has the absolute right under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to reject any ambassadorial candidate deemed unsuitable or harmful to domestic harmony.
He added that firm action is needed to defend the nation’s image and stance and to reject any efforts to spread extremist pro-Zionist ideologies in the country.
“Selangor PAS Youth stands firmly with Malaysians in rejecting elements of Islamophobia, tyranny and injustice. The appointment of Nick Adams as the US ambassador to Malaysia is a form of provocation against the nation’s historic stance on the Palestinian issue,” he said.
“We urge the government to use its power to reject his nomination and send a clear message that Malaysia will not be a stage for normalising Zionist tyranny or a testing ground for Islamophobic extremism.”
He added that Malaysia is also not a testing ground for pro-Zionist ambassadors and the need to defend the nation’s dignity.
On July 13, Amanah Youth international bureau chairman Mus’ab Muzahar said the nomination of Mr Nick Adams is an insult to the country’s dignity and foreign policy.
“Nick Adams is not a diplomat or a statesman. He is merely a far-right propagandist, a staunch Trump supporter and a vocal supporter of the Zionist Israeli regime,” he said in a Facebook post.
“His rhetoric on social media is full of hatred, racism and Islamophobic sentiments, clearly deviating from the spirit of mature bilateral relations.” THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
