KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has denied being a key player in Langkah Dubai, a purported recent move by the opposition to topple the unity government.
Dr Mahathir took to X (formerly Twitter) to deny allegations that he was a mastermind of the plot, noting claims that have implicated him in the attempt to form a backdoor government.
“First of all, I haven’t been to Dubai for a long time,” the two-time prime minister, 98, said, who then proceeded to accuse Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of being an “expert” in forming a backdoor government.
Dr Mahathir has been named as an alleged mastermind of Langkah Dubai, whereby Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders and certain government officials were said to have met in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last month to identify and plan approaches to government MPs believed to be likely to switch support.
Also named was Dr Mahathir’s long-time ally, tycoon and former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin.
Both were named by Community Communications Department (J-Kom) Deputy Director-General Datuk Ismail Yusop in a Facebook post a week ago, as well as by Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam.
Lokman, who is also Umno communications director, claimed RM750 million was being prepared to “buy over” 15 government MPs, but that the “desperate” attempt would fail.
J-Kom’s Ismail meanwhile, accused Daim and Dr Mahathir of being in cahoots with the opposition. – January 5, 2024
Various figures linked to the attempt have since issued denials, with police reports lodged by both opposition and government politicians.
Anwar also brushed off the Langkah Dubai attempt, saying the government would instead focus on its work and delivering programmes for the people. – January 5, 2024