“Langkah Dubai”: true or not?

(Scoop) – Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said a police report will be filed over claims of the so-called “Langkah Dubai,” which was aimed at toppling the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Denying the existence of such a move, the opposition politician said the claims of Perikatan Nasional politicians looking to destabilise the government was an attempt to sow discord and instil fear among the public.

Shahidan also asserted that the disclosure of Langkah Dubai by Community Communications Department Deputy Director-General Datuk Ismail Yusop was an effort to divert attention from the “moral” challenges confronted by the agency.

“Does Langkah Dubai truly exist? It seems that Ismail is currently fanning the flames and engaging in imprudent behaviour.

“Accusing specific individuals of conspiring and urging police action only contributes to divisiveness and fear, insinuating a movement aiming to overthrow the government and branding us (PN) as usurpers,” Shahidan said, as quoted by Sinar Harian.

Shahidan said this during the 2024 New Year’s Eve Run in Pengkalan Asam, Perlis yesterday evening.

Shahidan was responding to Ismail’s assertions, which alleged that Langkah Dubai was orchestrated by opposition party leaders and certain government representatives, all sharing the common objective of toppling the unity government.

On Saturday, Ismail said in a Facebook post that Langkah Dubai began during a recent retreat attended by PN 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 back-door government.

Also on Saturday, the Umno Supreme Council’s Datuk Lokman Noor Adam claimed Langkah Dubai was allegedly masterminded by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his right-hand man Tun Daim Zainuddin.

He said 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,” Lokman told Scoop.

“Daim is with (Dr) Mahathir. Both of them are very desperate. Neither of them want to go to jail or be part of the court cluster.”

Besides that, Lokman, who is also Umno communications director, has asserted that while Langkah Dubai is real, it is highly unlikely that the attempt will result in a new administration or prime minister from the opposition camp.