Most of the letters to malaysiakini are submitted with pseudonyms, for reasons we all understand. It is a way for readers to express their political opinions without fear of retribution.

But a recent letter to malaysiakini , US will get Anwar to be PM at any cost , written by someone who hides behind the name 'Kzacar', crossed the line. Far from expressing his views on the events of the day, Kzacar has written (and malaysiakini unfortunately has published) a surat layang, filled with falsehoods and unsubstantiated claims from top to bottom.

Just as Kzacar doesn't have the courage to reveal who he is, he doesn't offer one shred of evidence to back up his many false statements concerning the relationship between Anwar Ibrahim and the United States. Taken together, the writer is claiming, falsely, that the United States government has been actively interfering in Malaysia's internal politics for over a

decade.

As US ambassador during the time under question, let me take up Kzacar's points one by one and reveal them for what they are - false assertions, innuendos, and unsubstantiated claims.

Claim 1: 'Under President Bill Clinton's administration, Anwar Ibrahim was 'their man' to become the prime minister of Malaysia.'

Truth: In fact, Anwar was Mahathir's man to become prime minister until their falling out. Mahathir said on more than one occasion, including after Anwar's arrest, that Anwar would have been his successor. Most Malaysian political observers also expected Anwar to succeed Mahathir.

Claim 2: 'During Clinton's terms of presidency, substantial 'resources' were given to ensure that Anwar would become the Malaysian PM.'

Truth: The US government never provided one ringgit of support to Anwar. Kzacar's accusation is libelous, and readers should note that he provides no evidence, because there is none.

Claim 3: 'Substantial 'resources' were given to ensure that Mahathir's administration failed in one way or the other. Some may know of the 'hardships' they posed for Mahathir.'

Truth: As with the previous assertion, there is no merit whatsoever to this strange claim. No US government resources were ever expended to 'ensure Mahathir's failure.'

Claim 4: 'Anwar was given the 21-gun salute by the US military - first of its kind to a deputy prime minister. Mahathir was never given the honour.'

Truth: Actually, it was a 19-gun salute, and I dealt with this claim four years ago in an article in malaysiakini. Defence ministries around the world provide military honours to official visitors, and the salute to Anwar, who was then Malaysia's deputy prime minister, was in accord with military protocol and was provided to other foreign leaders as well. If prime minister Mahathir had visited the Pentagon, he would have received the same honour.

Claim 5: 'Deals were setup between US bankers and Anwar during the Asian financial crisis.'

Truth: Since I was in Malaysia at the time and following the financial crisis very closely, this is all news to me. What deals were struck? Where are the press reports or Malaysian financial records? What evidence does Kzacar offer for this bold assertion? None, because there isn't any.

Claim 6: 'The Clinton administration was disgusted and unhappy when Anwar was put in jail.'

Truth: It wasn't just the US that expressed concern about Anwar's arrest and near death in prison. Similar expressions of concern came from the presidents of Indonesia and the Philippines; the UN secretary-general; the secretary-general of Unesco; Nelson Mandela; the British, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand governments; the foreign minister of Thailand; the European Union; Amnesty International; Human Rights Watch; and the Asian and Commonwealth Bar Councils. Concern came from a number of Arab countries as well, but in private.

Claim 7: 'To the US, Mahathir was a clear and present danger to their national security and interest.'

Truth: While Mahathir's anti-American rhetoric was excessive, neither he nor Malaysia ever represented a threat to US national security. Comparing America's and Malaysia's relative military strengths, how can anyone make such a ridiculous assertion? In any event, the US and Malaysia have excellent military cooperation, as described by Najib Abdul Razak in a May 2002 speech at the Heritage Foundation.

Claim 8: 'Substantial amount of 'resources' were also allocated to jumpstart the reformasi movement. The US wanted the reformasi movement to masquerade as a local Malaysian movement by Malaysians to topple the Mahathir administration.'

Truth: No US government resources were provided to the reformasi movement, and Kzacar again makes a false assertion without details or evidence. And no responsible Malaysian political observer has ever suggested that the reformasi movement was anything other than a local Malaysian movement.

Claim 9: 'Just before Anwar's release last Thursday, a US aircraft carrier battle group docked at Westport, Port Klang. It included the USS John C Stennis aircraft carrier, three destroyers, three frigates and a nuclear submarine. They had a reason for being here. Gunboat diplomacy still works. 'Their man' was released.'

Truth: Visits by US naval vessels are approved by the Malaysian government well in advance of the ship's actual arrival. The approval for this particular visit would have been given by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's government. Gunboat diplomacy is when you go where you are not welcomed, but the Malaysian government consistently has welcomed US naval visits. In fact, the first ever visits to Malaysia by a US aircraft carrier and by a US nuclear submarine were approved by prime minister Mahathir's government.

Claim 10: 'Now, these 'resources' also finance Anwar's medical treatment in Germany.'

Truth: Although I am no longer with the US government, I am not aware of any US government funding for Anwar's treatment in Germany. This is one more example of an assertion without evidence.

From top to bottom, Kzacar's letter is junk and in the same category as the discredited '50 Reasons Why Anwar Cannot be PM' pamphlet. One can only hope that in this new era of Malaysian politics, no one will pay heed to peddlers of slime.

The writer was US ambassador to Malaysia 1995-1998.