Fahmi said it was standard procedure for the Cabinet to receive a formal memorandum from the foreign ministry on any new ambassadorial or diplomatic appointment to Malaysia, Bernama reported.

“As of now, the matter has not been brought to the Cabinet’s attention,” said Fahmi, who is communications minister.

Asked whether Malaysia has the right to reject Adams’s appointment, Fahmi said: “In diplomacy, there is a concept known as ‘agrément’, where the host country must first accept the nominee. The same applies in reverse – when Malaysia appoints its envoys abroad, approval from the host nation is also required.”

US media reports have stated that President Donald Trump had nominated Adams as the next US ambassador to Malaysia. An Australian-born conservative political commentator, Adams is now a US citizen.

The nomination faced opposition from former law minister Zaid Ibrahim and former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin. They said Malaysia had every right under the Vienna Convention to reject Adams’s appointment without stating any reason.

On Saturday, Zaid described Adams as a “right-wing agitator and partisan provocateur” who was unfit to serve as a US ambassador due to his lack of diplomatic credentials. Adams is also known to be a staunch supporter of Israel.