Enough backdoor moves, stop wasting people's time - Zahid slams PN

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has lambasted Perikatan Nasional for hatching alleged plots to topple the current government through various “moves” - Dubai Move and Chow Kit Move.

Speaking to reporters today, Zahid said it’s high time PN quit wasting the people’s time with its backdoor manoeuvring.

“Don’t waste time diverting the people’s attention. When it comes to any tebuk atap (forming a government through the ‘backdoor’) attempts, the current situation is not the same as before the implementation of the anti-hopping law.

“Statutory declarations are no longer used as the main platform as any decision to switch support is made by the party, it needs to be en bloc.

“So this will not happen,” he said, citing assurances given by Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg, who leads GPS while GRS in Sabah is busy with upcoming state elections.

Zahid, who is also rural and regional development minister, said this during his New Year address to the ministry at Putrajaya this morning. 

On Dec 30, Community Communications Department (J-Kom) deputy director-general Ismail Yusop claimed there was a plot to topple the federal government.

Ismail said the plan, dubbed the Dubai Move, arose during a recent vacation taken by PN leaders and government backbenchers to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

He claimed a meeting took place during the visit to assign specific tasks to “agents” responsible for identifying MPs who might switch their support to the opposition with inducements.

PN has denied the existence of such a plot, calling it a diversion tactic by the government.

Not mere imagination

On Tuesday (Jan 2), Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed that attempts are being made to unseat the Anwar Ibrahim administration.

“We received intelligence reports from their (alleged plotters) flight to the location (Dubai), and got a report afterwards,” he claimed.

Zahid said the move involved lawmakers from the government bloc as well.

Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has also confirmed the existence of a plot by the opposition to topple the government.

Instead of labelling it the Dubai Move - as the meeting had allegedly taken place in Dubai - Sanusi called it the “Chow Kit Move”.

“People are labelling (the plot as) the Dubai Move, but it’s really the Chow Kit Move because it was discussed in Kuala Lumpur.

“I think Dubai was just a dummy (decoy) because they (the alleged conspirators) went to Dubai. Lots of people go to Dubai,” he said on Wednesday (Jan 3).

Since the infamous Sheraton Move in 2020, which led to the collapse of the 22-month-old Pakatan Harapan government, Malaysian politics has witnessed a constant realignment of forces.

In August 2021, Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin, who spearheaded the Sheraton Move, was forced to resign as prime minister following divisions between him and Umno.

Zahid today also asserted that the current administration has four years left to build the nation before the next general election.

“The nation has been damaged during the previous term. There were three prime ministers who led the country during that one term. It did not produce any benefits for the people during that period.

“We know that the opposition will make ‘moves’, but we want to see political stability and economic growth in the country. We also want to reduce the unemployment rate and create more jobs.”

‘Waste of time’

Echoing Zahid’s sentiments, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing called the Dubai Move a waste of time - with the plotters only experiencing failure.

Taking a swipe at an unnamed individual, Tiong said the person used to hold the highest post in the government and questioned his motives.

“When you were holding a government post, you were timid.

“But after losing power, you criticise a lot and scheme to regain power. What is your motive here?” he asked, believed to be alluding to Muhyiddin Yassin.

Bumiputera Economic Congress

In separate developments, Zahid said the Bumiputera Economic Congress will be held for three days beginning Feb 29 this year.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will also be receiving a resolution on the last day of the congress which falls on March 2.

The prime minister will also be announcing the implementation action on the proposed resolutions.

“The congress will include 10 clusters that saw the involvement of the bumiputera in economic and non-economic sectors. This includes the Dayak business commerce and Kadazan Dusun business commerce,” he said.

Shuttered subsidiaries

Meanwhile, Zahid confirmed that several subsidiaries under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry have been closed down.

This, he said, comes after the companies were found to be underperforming and not making any profit.

“The ministry has offered a management buyout with nominal fees or hired the management of the subsidiaries.”

Elaborating on the matter, he said chairpersons of agencies and regional development boards have been instructed to attempt to restore unprofitable companies.

“It’s better to find a way to contribute to the profit of the agency and the ministry, if it fails, my instruction is to shutter them.”

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