January 3, 2024
PUTRAJAYA – The much talked about plot to oust the government indeed existed but it failed to achieve its goal, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
In confirming the existence of the Dubai Move, the Deputy Prime Minister cited “intelligence” report on the flights taken by the “plotters” to their destination.
“Following subsequent information, we believe their meeting was just a waste of time,” he told reporters yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid was responding to a question on whether the so-called Dubai Move had indeed been hatched.
The supposed plan to topple the government had been talked about in political circles following an interview given by Community Communications Department (J-Kom) deputy director-general Datuk Ismail Yusop to a Malay daily in which he spoke about such a plot being organised by Perikatan Nasional leaders and government backbenchers while on vacation in Dubai.
Ahmad Zahid, when asked about those who were present at the meeting, did not divulge further details.
He described the plot as an ill-conceived plan.
Ahmad Zahid, who is Umno president, scoffed at attempts to bring down the government through the “back door”.
He said that previous attempts had failed as well, and that such a backdoor manoeuvre to oust the government was no longer possible following the introduction of the anti-hopping law.
The Dubai Move, or any other such attempts, could only be possible if an entire party decides en bloc to switch their allegiance.
“There can no longer be such a move by just relying on statutory declarations,” he added.
In February 2020, the then Pakatan Harapan-led government collapsed after MPs from Bersatu and several PKR MPs decided to leave the coalition government.
Yesterday, in responding to Ahmad Zahid’s confirmation of such a plot, PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the Dubai Move was the government’s own making.
He claimed that the Dubai Move was a tale concocted by the ruling MPs but which they now fear might backfire on them.
Tuan Ibrahim further said that if the government had said it was not illegal for Opposition MPs to support the Madani government, then it should not be illegal for MPs from ruling parties to support the Opposition.
“This Dubai Move issue is something which they themselves created. When they discussed it further, they then started fearing their own creation.
“When the five MPs from Perikatan recently switched their support to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, it was clarified by the government that their act did not contravene the anti-hopping law.
“If that is the case, then government MPs pledging their support for the Opposition too will not be breaking any laws,” he said.
Tuan Ibrahim added that there would be no need to monitor and spy on every other MP if the current government truly has a two-thirds majority.
He also recalled that Anwar had not too long ago attempted the “Sept 16 Move” and Barisan Nasional – then the government – had to take their MPs to Taiwan to get them away from Anwar.
“The ‘Taiwan Move’ killed the ‘Sept 16 Move’.
“I am wondering what other ‘moves’ this government will conjure up,” he quipped.
The “Sept 16 Move” refers to a political attempt in 2008 when Anwar, then the Opposition chief, stated that he had the support of Barisan MPs to take over the government by Malaysia Day.
Tuan Ibrahim, who is Kubang Kerian MP and also the state Opposition chief in Pahang, said they were committed to discharging their responsibilities and would leave their trust in God on the fate of the government.