Malaysian leaders have in recent times accused the United States, its media, or the Jews of conspiring to topple Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and destabilise the government.

But given the good ties between the two countries, any claim that the US is trying to oust Najib is just “not credible”, US ambassador to Malaysia Joseph Y Yun told Malaysiakini in an interview at his office in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

“This good relationship extends to the highest level of the government, and every minister I've met, every Malaysian official I've met, really want nothing but to build up the relationship between our two governments.

“So these kind of theories to me really lack basis in reality and in credibility. And I don't take them seriously, and I see that most Malaysians don't take them seriously,” said Yun.

In August, Malacca Chief Minister Idris Haron claimed the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) court filings related to the 1MDB scandal is part of a political ploy to topple Najib and dislodge the Malays from power.

The DOJ, through its Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, is seeking to recover US$1 billion of assets in the US which it alleged was linked to “stolen money” from the Malaysian state-owned investment fund.

And while Multimedia and Communications Minister Salleh Said Keruak was quick to dismiss any such conspiracy by the US government, he said the US media were not so innocent.

The minister last month accused The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times of trying to tarnish the good name of Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor in order to smear Malaysia's image, destabilise the government and unseat the prime minister.

But even Salleh's theory lacks credibility, said Yun.

“I don't think it's plausible. I mean, the media's job is to investigate. That's their job. So I don't think there is any agenda on the media's part,” said Yun, who is ending his three-year stint as US ambassador next week.

When asked if such claims had affected US-Malaysia's ties given that they came from the country's leaders, Yun said: “Everyone has a free voice. Even ministers can speak their minds.”

However, he drew the line on allegations of Jewish conspiracies, describing them as anti-Semitic.

“Nobody wants to hear one group being singled out, whether Jews, Christians, Muslims or Buddhists. No religion deserves being targeted as such,” said Yun.

Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi had last year said “the Jews” were backing DAP to destroy Muslims and Malays in Malaysia.

Yun said: “Obviously I disagree with any anti-Semitism, as I would on anything that speaks about religion, ethnicity.

“Those are strongly-held beliefs of not just me, but Malaysians in general as well as Americans. There are norms, so when you go beyond that norm, I would say yes, I disagree.

“I would disagree with anyone singling out race, colour, creed, religion as a basis for discrimination.”

Yesterday: Outgoing US envoy responds to DOJ suit and 'MO1'