KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 — Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the United States Embassy in Kuala Lumpur today to protest against the proposed appointment of Nick Adams, a self-styled “alpha male” influencer, as US envoy to Malaysia.
US President Donald Trump last week named outspoken author and political commentator Adams as the White House’s nominee for US ambassador to Malaysia.
Adams, a naturalised US citizen from Australia, has cultivated a brash social media persona, using a macho, “alpha male” branding to weigh in on cultural issues and appeal to an audience of mainly young men.
But his posts harshly criticising Islam and showing support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has angered Malaysians, triggering a rare protest against a foreign diplomatic appointment in the Southeast Asian country.
The outcry comes at a critical time for Malaysia, which has until August 1 to reach a trade deal with Washington to avoid a steep 25 per cent tariff imposed on its exports to the US.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told reporters today that it is too early in the process to decide on Adams’ appointment, but the government would give the matter due consideration.
“We will seek to protect the good relations between Malaysia and the United States,” Anwar said.
Demonstrators led by youth leaders from the ruling coalition submitted a memorandum of protest to the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur asking Trump to reconsider his nomination of Adams.
The memorandum cited “divisive rhetoric” used by Adams, and characterised his postings as insensitive towards Malaysia’s multicultural society.
Malaysia has long been a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause.
“An ambassador’s task is to be the bridge between two countries and we don’t want that person to be someone who destroys that bridge instead,” said Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s Izuan Kasim.
The embassy and Adams’ office did not respond to requests for comment.
The protestors also called on Malaysia’s government to exercise its right under international norms to reject Adams’ proposed appointment.
Under the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, host countries have discretion to accept or reject ambassadorial appointments without having to provide a reason.
Unity Government spokesman Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said on Tuesday that the cabinet had not received a formal notice of Adams’ appointment to Malaysia.
Adams’ nomination has not yet been approved, but he is widely expected to be confirmed by the Republican-held US Senate.
— Reuters
