KUALA LUMPUR – Talks of a Langkah Dubai, which is aimed at toppling the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is merely perceived as cheap political propaganda.
Political analyst Datuk Jeniri Amir said the plot would not see the light of day, as the leaders of the unity government’s component parties are still supportive of Anwar.
He added that the move was deliberately played by certain parties to weaken the current government.
“If this (Langkah Dubai) is true, why is it that five opposition MPs previously expressed support for the prime minister? It is a sign that the people have begun seeing the direction of Anwar’s leadership throughout his administration since last year.
“Let’s say that a large portion of Umno leaders will shift to support the Langkah Dubai, I do not think Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his faction will support being under Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin – who is their political enemy,” he told Scoop.
Jeniri said the attempted chaos caused by certain quarters could lead to substantial implications for the nation’s reputation and economic recovery.
If Malaysia’s negative political issues are often played up, it would be difficult to attract investors to the country, he added.
He also believed that the people are fed up with political games, which gives the impression that the opposition is not respectful of voter rights and the mandate given to the current administration after the November 2022 general election.
“To satiate their hunger for power, they are willing to ignore the future of the country and its people. The opposition should focus on its role.”
Meanwhile, Universiti Malaya (UM) sociopolitical analyst Awang Azman Awang Pawi expressed similar sentiments, by describing Langkah Dubai as a mere fairytale to discredit the federal government.
He also urged those who are involved in the movement to stop trying to topple the government.
“If the opposition truly wanted power, it should have used proper channels by waiting another four years for the general election, instead of continuously trying to topple the current administration.
“Enough with the agenda to disrupt the peace of the nation and people. They should play a role in improving the nation for future progress.
“Now, with the ongoing floods as a hot topic, they should prioritise that.
“Be patient for four more years, use the proper channels and democratic platforms. Do not ‘tebuk atap’ (use backdoor manoeuvres) as before. If you continue doing so, it is true hypocrisy,” he told Scoop.
Several leaders in the unity government including Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, and DAP’s Syahredzan Johan had denied knowledge of the movement while the opposition decried the accusations.
However, Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam said Langkah Dubai was allegedly masterminded by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his right-hand man Tun Daim Zainuddin.
Daim, who is being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for graft and money laundering, was said to be willing to fork out hundreds of millions of ringgit to “buy over” government MPs.
“There are allegations saying that Daim is willing to spend RM750 million to buy over 15 (government) MPs.
“If Daim is willing to spend huge amounts of money on (buying over) MPs before he has even managed to secure the Agong’s blessing, I consider that really stupid,” Lokman told Scoop today.
Yesterday, J-Kom Deputy Director-General Datuk Ismail Yusop said in a Facebook post that Langkah Dubai was started during a recent vacation undertaken by Perikatan Nasional leaders and government officials to the United Arab Emirates.
During the overseas visit, a meeting supposedly took place to assign specific tasks to persons responsible for identifying government MPs who were likely to switch their support to the opposition with inducements and pave the way for a backdoor government. – December 31, 2023