Dubai Move failed to achieve its goal, says Zahid

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has said that the “Dubai Move" to topple the unity government failed to achieve its goal.

The Deputy Prime Minister confirmed the alleged meeting took place in Dubai and described it as a “waste of time”.

"Yes, based on the initial intelligence we received on their flights to reach the destination.

"Following subsequent information, we believe that the meeting was a waste of time," said Ahmad Zahid at a press conference here on Tuesday (Jan 2).

Ahmad Zahid said this when responding to a question if the alleged Dubai Move had taken place as recently reported.

When asked who had wasted their time attending the meeting, Ahmad Zahid merely said: "Those attending it".

On Saturday (Dec 30), Community Communications Department deputy director-general Datuk Ismail Yusop claimed that the plot to topple Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's Madani government was organised by Perikatan Nasional leaders and government backbenchers who are vacationing in the United Arab Emirates.

According to Ismail, a meeting occurred during the visit to assign specific tasks to “agents” responsible for identifying MPs who may want to switch their support to the opposition.

Several Umno leaders have since rubbished the alleged move.

On Monday (Jan 2), Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad lodged a police report against a YouTuber for accusing him of conspiring with a group of MPs in Dubai to oust the government.

Abdul Rahman said he wanted to clear his name as the individual attempted to link him with those involved with the Dubai Move.

Earlier, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Umno president, said there is currently an anti-hopping law against elected MPs switching allegiance in an attempt to change government.

He said that a manoeuvre such as the alleged Dubai Move could only be feasible if the entire party decides en bloc to switch allegiance to form a government.

"There cannot be any such moves any longer by just relying on statutory declarations," he added.