PKR Youth to rally against US nomination of 'alpha male' as envoy

Summary

• PKR Youth will hold a protest at the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

• The rally is to show objection to the nomination of pro-Zionist Nick Adams as the next US ambassador to Malaysia.

• DAP leader Kasthuri Patto questions if Adams has the qualities to hold such a high office.

PKR Youth is set to stage a demonstration in front of the US Embassy this Friday to protest Nick Adams' nomination as the next US ambassador to Malaysia.

Its deputy chief Izuan Kasim said the rally will be co-organised with leaders from other Pakatan Harapan component parties and NGOs.

"We will submit our memorandum (of protest) to the embassy during the demonstration on Friday," he told Malaysiakini.

The youth wing, in a statement yesterday, urged the US to appoint a "more moderate, respected, and globally minded individual" instead of Adams, whom they condemn for being pro-Zionist.

Besides PKR Youth, Adams had been facing mounting rejection calls from civil society organisations, activists and public figures since US President Donald Trump nominated him last week.

The 40-year-old Australian-American influencer, author, and self-described "alpha male" would be replacing Edgard Kagan, a career diplomat who was nominated by former president Joe Biden in May 2023.

Adams is infamous for his posts promoting a personal image based on stereotypical symbols of masculinity, as well as making Islamophobic remarks.

He is also an avowed Zionist, with former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin sharing a post by Adams last year, in which the latter bragged about getting a waiter wearing a "free Palestine" pin fired.

‘Adams has no place in society’

A DAP Women leader has also joined the chorus in objecting to Adams’ nomination.

Kasthuri Patto questioned if Adams has the qualities that fit the role of a top government representative.

The DAP Central Committee member pointed to Adams' "perverse interest" in American chain restaurant Hooters and a disturbing tweet saying "he is pursued by copious amounts of women", among others.

"This statement of no class, particularly in belittling, disrespecting and underestimating women, has no place in any society, let alone as a top official representative of his government," she said.

Kasthuri stressed that Malaysia deserves someone better than Adams to be the next US ambassador, especially with the country’s role as Asean chair.

Refer to Vienna Convention

PAS Youth is the latest to remind Putrajaya that under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Malaysia reserves the right to accept or reject any envoy from foreign nations.

“Article 4(1) clearly mentions that the sending nation (the US) must get an official agreement from the receiving nation (Malaysia) before appointing their ambassador.

“Local laws mention that when it comes to the appointment of a foreign ambassador, it must receive the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after getting advice from the prime minister.

“If the Agong doesn’t consent to it, it means the person cannot become an ambassador as the receiving country did not agree to it,” PAS Youth strategic communication director Nazrul Nazir said in a statement today.

He added that under Article 4(2), the receiving country has no obligation to state its reasons for rejecting a particular candidate.

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