KUALA LUMPUR: The United States government has no role in deciding on companies listed as vendors participating in the Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security (NatSec) Asia 2024, says Edgard D. Kagan.
The US ambassador to Malaysia also said there had been no formal communication from those protesting the participation of companies accused of supporting the cruelty in Gaza.
"They (protesting parties) have not contacted us directly.
"I also noticed that it wasn't just American companies they criticised. Their criticism was also directed at a variety of international companies," he told reporters on the sidelines of the DSA and NatSec Asia 2024 on Monday (May 6).
Kagan added that Malaysia had put together a very impressive show.
"The exhibition has a global reputation and it is well known as a serious show that brings together critical global players.
"This (deciding who participates) is something the US government has no part in. This (participation) is something that is at the invitation of Malaysia," he said.
He was commenting on a call by Bersatu for the Malaysian government to prohibit the participation of two companies allegedly involved in supplying weapons to the Israeli military.
It was reported that Bersatu international bureau chief Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah expressed his party's concern over the involvement of the two companies in the event.
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