I was just meeting ex-staffers, Ismail Sabri says over rumours of secret meeting

With several images of BN and PAS leaders purportedly having a meeting at Tropicana Golf Resort, Petaling Jaya leaked online, netizens became concerned and dubbed it “Tropicana Move”.

They got worried that it may be another attempt like the infamous Sheraton Move, which saw the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government in 2020.

However, former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob dismissed the rumours outright and admonished those who slandered the leaders.

Ismail Sabri was one of the BN leaders spotted at the golf resort.

“I just attended a farewell gathering with former prime minister’s office staff members,” he said.

The Umno vice-president lamented that his action was misinterpreted by several quarters and criticised naysayers for their supposed hypocrisy.

"It is not true (about the meeting). What meeting of 10 people? Only five people were named on the list. These are all malicious slanders to ruin my reputation.

"Nowadays, I can't even meet my friends. One becomes a traitor when he meets PAS friends and turns into a saviour when he meets Harapan leaders. This is crazy," he told Malaysiakini in a text message.

It is learnt that 10 BN and PAS leaders were allegedly involved. Other leaders seen at the resort were Ketereh Umno chief Annuar Musa, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, MCA president Wee Ka Siong and former Putrajaya Umno leader Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz.

‘Can’t even meet friends these days’

Stressing it was just a meet-up with former staffers, Ismail Sabri lamented that the whole thing got misinterpreted - and that he even supposedly met BN treasurer-general Hishammuddin Hussein there.

“There were even rumours that former health Khairy Jamaluddin is plotting to take on Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"Umno leaders slander each other and even divide the party, just because (some) want to support certain people to become the prime minister and form a government,” he added.

On that note, Wee also dismissed rumours about such a meeting taking place.

"This is utter rubbish. I was having dim sum brunch with two friends in a Chinese restaurant at 10am yesterday.

"I spotted Ismail Sabri's bodyguard and went to say hello to him as he was having breakfast. I just greeted him and then I didn’t disturb him as my friends had arrived," explained the former transport minister.

"Ismail Sabri was there all by himself, I didn't see anyone else. How do I know if he has a meeting?

"You can check with the Tropicana management, check the CCTV? Please, this is (about) privacy. How can they do that?" Wee asked.

Meanwhile, Annuar also denied involvement in any meeting yesterday when asked to comment.

"I was there to play golf," he said in a brief message.

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