Umno has called for an independent investigation on claims that the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) had worked with opposition parties in Malaysia since 2002.

Its information chief Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the investigation should be done by a specially formed neutral body, since the judiciary and other law enforcement agencies are under Pakatan Harapan’s control.

It urged the Council of Rulers to take a stand on the matter as soon as possible to curtail foreign intervention in Malaysian politics and prevent Malaysia from suffering the fates of countries like Yemen, Libya, Iraq, and Syria.

“There is no longer any use for them to take the ‘one-way street’ approach, that is to investigate others but won’t allow themselves to be investigated. Malaysians must rise immediately to prevent the country from continuing to be pawned,” he said in a statement today.

In a video recorded on July 12, IRI president Daniel Twining said his organisation had been attempting to strengthen opposition parties in Malaysia since 2002, and this proved beneficial to the US due to its approach to China once Pakatan Harapan took power. 

The group did not take credit for Harapan’s victory at the 14th general election, but Twining instead attributed BN’s downfall to “excesses of the one-party state”.

Several PKR leaders had said that its cooperation with IRI was limited to leadership training, and did not involve any concerted plan to topple BN or otherwise influence domestic politics. 

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had said that DAP has no contact with IRI at all. 

Meanwhile, Shamsul said Malaysia’s democratic system ought to be respected, and inviting foreign intervention is unwarranted.

He challenged DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang to deny Twining allegations and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to explain whether his move to resign from Umno in 2003 was merely a “crocodile tear” that was part of a plot to destroy Umno.

He also demanded to know how much foreign money Harapan parties had received, speculating that it may even exceed the RM2.6 billion figure touted by Harapan leaders in criticising the 1MDB scandal.

“Selling the nation’s dignity is saddening because any outcome of such cooperation with foreign agencies portrays Malaysia as being ‘easily bought’ in the name of democracy.

“Those who took part in it are very irresponsible and betrayed the nation’s sovereignty,” he said.