Umno-Barisan Nasional was brought down in May 2018 with US help

(FMT) – An organisation heavily linked to senior Republican figures as well as former top US intelligence officers has been working with the Malaysian opposition since 2002, including the Pakatan Harapan coalition which took power in the May elections, a forum joined by top American think tanks was told recently.

The International Republican Institute (IRI), a Washington-based outfit whose board of directors include Republican politicians such as John McCain as well as former National Security advisers and ex-military officers, said its efforts in Malaysia had finally paid off in the 14th general election, and benefitted the US in terms of its current rivalry with China.