The Leaders Summit on Climate, organised and hosted by US President Joe Biden, will take place virtually on April 22 and 23 and broadcast live for public viewing.

In a Facebook post, the Pekan MP wondered if Malaysia was not being invited because of its faltering reputation on the world stage.

“Is Malaysia being seen as lagging behind in the fight against climate change and pollution?” he asked.

Noting that the conference will be held online, he sarcastically asked if Malaysia’s exclusion could be due to “unstable internet connection” instead.

Biden’s hosting of the summit is the latest attempt by the White House to shift towards a more climate-centric position following the election defeat of Donald Trump.

In a statement, the White House said the invitees to the summit included the “heads of other countries that are demonstrating strong climate leadership, are especially vulnerable to climate impacts, or are charting innovative pathways to a net-zero economy”.

On his first day in office, Biden returned the US to the Paris Agreement on climate, which Trump had controversially withdrawn from during his tenure, signalling renewed commitment to combating the effects of climate change.