‘Let's not embarrass ourselves': Tok Mat says can't reject Nick Adams since no request yet for him to be US ambassador here
He said doing so would be premature and potentially embarrassing for Malaysia, as the Wisma Putra has yet to receive any formal request from Washington
'As for Nick Adams, we've yet to receive any request or agreement from the US. Let's wait and see how the request comes,' he said during the question and answer session in Dewan Rakyat.
'Of course, Wisma Putra, the Foreign Ministry will provide its views and considerations, which will then be brought to Cabinet for a decision.'
Mohamad added that there was currently no basis for any action, as Malaysia was merely responding to hearsay at this stage.
'That's my only answer for now, because we haven't received anything, it's all just talk. If we reject it now, they might say, 'But we never even asked?' That would be embarrassing for us,' he said.
'Let's not embarrass ourselves unnecessarily,' he added.
Last Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia would follow established diplomatic protocols when the time comes for the US to nominate its next ambassador to Kuala Lumpur.
On July 11, US President Donald Trump announced on social media that he will nominate Adams to the role, after praising the latter as 'an incredible Patriot and very successful entrepreneur' whose devotion to America serves as an inspiration.
Under diplomatic protocol, no country may send an ambassador without the host nation's prior consent, which is a key principle in international relations.
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