By Rozanna Latiff
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Friday to protest against the proposed appointment of Nick Adams, a self-styled “alpha male” influencer, as the United States’ envoy to Malaysia.
President Donald Trump last week named outspoken author and political commentator Adams as the White House’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to Malaysia.
Adams, a naturalised U.S. citizen originally 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 it is his posts harshly criticising Islam and showing support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza that has angered Muslims in Malaysia, 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% tariff imposed on its exports to the United States.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told reporters on Friday it was too early in the process to decide on Adams’ appointment but his government would give the matter due consideration.
“At the same time, we will seek to protect the good relations between Malaysia and the United States,” Anwar said, according to a recording of his remarks provided by his office to Reuters.
Demonstrators led by youth leaders from Anwar’s ruling coalition submitted a memorandum of protest to the U.S. embassy in Kuala Lumpur asking for Trump to reconsider his nomination of Adams.
The memorandum cited “divisive rhetoric” used by Adams, and characterised his postings as insensitive towards Malaysia’s multi-cultural society.
Malaysia, which has a majority of mostly Muslim ethnic Malays alongside significant ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indian minorities, 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 Muhammad Izuan Ahmad Kasim, a member of Anwar’s People’s Justice Party.
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.
Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil said on Tuesday the cabinet had not yet received any 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 U.S. Senate.
(Reporting by Mandy Leong and Rozanna Latiff; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
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